Originally Published MDDI December 2002
BULLETIN BOARD
Customized pressure-sensitive tapes. A line of pressure- sensitive tape and foam products offers customized solutions to the design engineering community. Pro Tapes & Specialties Inc. (Edison, NJ; 800/345-0234) complements its line of single- and double-coated foam tape with foam-tape skiving to accommodate critical thickness specifications. Adhesives can be custom-applied on one or both sides of a wide range of substrates. The tape parts can be supplied in sheet-fed, perforated, or roll form, or as individual pieces. Width tolerances of ±0.001 in. are possible with rewind slitting, while lathe slitting can produce widths as narrow as 1Ž16 in.
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Polymer alternative available for a wide range of applications. A premium ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is designed for high-performance products and continuous-cure extrusion applications. G&E Blended 565 EPDM from Goldsmith & Eggleton Inc. (Wadsworth, OH; 800/321-0954) is manufactured in accordance with a quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2000. Featuring tightly controlled specifications, the ethylene and the ethylidene norbornene are measured and controlled through the entire manufacturing process, giving this grade excellent repeatable processing characteristics. Blended 565 EPDM can also be colored easily, allowing for many product applications.Technical papers for composite formulators. Two technical papers focus on the use of Poly bd resins in adhesives and electrical applications, respectively. The Poly bd resins from Sartomer Co. (Exton, PA; 610/594-7360) provide formulation flexibility, extremely high water repellency, good low- and high-temperature properties, and excellent adhesion to all substrates. Each technical paper is written for composite formulators, featuring in-depth technical data and useful findings that they can immediately apply to improve both processes and products. Illustrative tables and figures make it easy to scan for key information.
Laminating and die-cutting system designed for delicate materials. A laminating and die-cutting system uses a PID loop to control tension. The Sheet-Fed Laminating/Die-Cutting System from Contech (Goddard, KS; 800/961-6449) processes delicate materials easily and efficiently. Sheets of foam are fed by an automatic sheet-feeder module through a water-heated laminating station. Two layers of adhesive are applied to the top of the material while a substrate is laminated to the bottom. An optically registered die-cutter then cuts out the final product at close tolerances. The final product is removed from the matrix by a knockout station onto a side- exiting conveyor.
Rubber presses provide high-quality parts with excellent tolerances. Low-profile rubber presses are available up to 700 tn at 2000 psi, with platen sizes up to 36 x 36 in. The units, manufactured by ASB Industries Inc. (Barberton, OH; 330/753-8458), can be supplied with electric, oil, or steam heat platens. All critical dimensions are machined to exact specifications to assure the highest part-production tolerances. The presses are free-standing and can be quickly installed and easily moved, eliminating the need for a bit on the production floor.
Conductive ink designed for plated through-holes. Creative Materials Inc. (Tyngsboro, MA; 978/649-4700) offers a screen-printable, electrically conductive ink and coating that is particularly useful for plated through-hole applications. The 122-22 system is designed to maintain stable viscosity during all application methods, and has a mild odor. The product features excellent adhesion to FR2, FR3, and FR4 printed circuit board substrates, as well as Kapton, Mylar, glass, and a variety of other substrates. Its applications include electroless plating, and EMI/RFI shielding of polyimide flexible circuits.
Rheometer measures elongational properties. An extensional rheometer analyzes the thinning and breakup of a fluid filament, providing valuable information about a material's physical properties. The CaBER 1 from Thermo Material Characterization (Madison, WI; 608/327-6777) can function as either an analytical instrument or a quality control tool. Standard features include computer control, a Class 1 laser micrometer, a linear motor drive with variable speed, automatic repeated testing, and a closed temperature-controlled sample chamber. The rheometer is ideal for applications involving adhesives, industrial resins, surfactants, and associated polymers.
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