From art to certified biocompatible part in record time
The industry's first portfolio of biocompatible engineering plastic stock shapes for machining are USP Class V and VI certified and FDA and ISO 10993 compliant. Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products has developed the portfolio of materials including a group of new, Life Science Grades (LSG) that are pre-qualified biocompatible. This saves OEMs the time and costs associated with biocompatibility testing and regulatory approvals.
Read the full story

— Jean M. Hoffman

Sittin' pretty
Softline All Kit in Italy chose Luran 368 R, a styrene-acrylonitrile-copolymer (SAN), for the seat shell of its new designer Slim chair. The thermoplastic from BASF Corp. not only stands out for its high transparency and brilliance its high stiffness, low density, and ease of processing let it replace other transparent materials such as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or PC (polycarbonate). Luran is reportedly more resistant to scratches and stress cracking than PC. "This material is not only easy to process, it is also highly resistant to chemicals," explains Manuela Marzona, working at Softline All Kit. "This makes the chair sturdy, esthetically appealing, and comfortable at the same time."
BASF Corp.
Softline All Kit

Smooth sailing
United Internet Team Germany entered this year's challenge for the America's Cup with a newly designed yacht dubbed the GER 89. To protect the the 26-m long, 4-m wide yacht's hull and parts under the deck from friction and pressures due to high sailing speeds, the boat's maker covered them with a high-performance thermoplastic film.
Read the full story

Biomaterial-based stent makes clinical trial debut
A revolutionary, new biomaterial, developed at the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials at Rutgers University has moved from the lab bench to field testing in record time. This achievement, a product of a breakthrough methodology in biomaterials discovery, is the enabling technology behind a coronary stent undergoing its first-in-human clinical trial in Germany and in Brazil.
Read the full story

Continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics
A range of Celstran continuous fiber-reinforced tapes in a thermoplastic matrix (CFRTP) can be post-processed and formed using processing techniques such as winding or pressing. Finished parts can replace thermoset resins and light metal alloys in structural and highly-stressed components in aircraft, rail car and automotive. Thermoplastic matrix materials include PP, POM, TPU, PPS, and PBT. Composite prepreg tapes are manufactured with a continuous process with unidirectional orientation of the reinforcement fibers (glass, carbon, aramid, and stainless steel). The standard portfolio includes 4, 6, 8, 10 in.-wide tapes.
More Information:
Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corp.

Eco-friendly cable insulation
Arnitel XG thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) meets UL VW1 specifications for use in cable insulation for consumer electronics. The halogen-free TPE copolyester tailors to growing demands for materials and technologies that are environmentally safer. Consumer electronic goods such as mobile phones and computers have a short product life cycle. Obsolete equipment needs to be recycled. Copper from cables or chargers are reclaimed during recycling, while insulation materials are often incinerated. In contrast to commonly used polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulation that can form carcinogenic dioxins during incineration, Arnitel XG recycles safely.
More information:
DSM Engineering Plastics

Medical-grade elastomers
A line of ISO 9001-2000 certified parts and seals are made with USP Class 6 grades that include silicone, Viton fluoroelastomer (FKM), and EPDM rubber for medical applications. The elastomers resist chemicals, 400°F (200°C) temperatures, and feature low gas permeability. Parts include O-rings, microSeals, and face, housing, and filter seals, as well as microminiature O-rings and seals.
More Information:
Apple Rubber

Experience National Instruments Technologies From the Comfort of Your Own Computer!
With more than 200 on-demand webcasts, videos, interactive tutorials and demos available for users of any experience level, it is easier than ever to learn about the newest products and features available from National Instruments.
Begin your search here with a collection of webcasts specifically chosen for design and automation engineers.

Subscribe to our RSS feeds Machine Design headlines Motion System Design headlines Hydraulics & Pneumatics headlines Medical Design headlines

Sponsored by:

UPCOMING WEBCASTS

Introduction to Direct Gear Design
Sponsored by AKGears
DATE: January 16th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET

Invention of the gear hobbing process about 150 years ago revolutionized not only gear fabrication, but also gear design. The cutting edge of the hob presents the generating gear rack. The standard universal gear design approach provides gear interchangeability and reduces tooling inventory, however, it also constrains performance for particular gear applications.

This webcast presents the Direct Gear Design method — an alternative approach to traditional analysis and design of involute gears, which separates gear geometry definition from the generating rack and tool selection to maximize gear transmission performance for a particular product and application.

Power Transmission Technologies:
The Advantages and Applications of Belt Drive Solutions
Sponsored by Gates Corporation
DATE: February 19th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET

Today's designers choose from a variety of technologies for transmitting power in mechanical systems. With increasing demands to optimize systems for efficiency, noise, package size and low maintenance, choosing the right power transmission technology for the job is a challenge. Brent Oman with Gates Corporation will share his knowledge about selecting power transmission solutions. The presentation will review the pros and cons of different technologies and demonstrate the various capabilities of belt drive systems in particular.

ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING

Garlock Sealing Technologies celebrates 120th anniversary
Founded by Olin J. Garlock in 1887 as a piston rod sealing company, Garlock Sealing Technologies now provides fluid sealing solutions for chemical processing, petrochemical, refining, pulp and paper, power generation, electronics, steel mills, food and pharmaceutical, mining and original equipment manufacturers (OEM). The company has 13 global operations, 1,500 employees, and is supported by a network of authorized distributors in 79 countries. To mark this milestone, parent company EnPro Industries is investing $35 million over the span of a five-year period to its "Palmyra Modernization Project (PMP)." The PMP includes the recently-completed construction of an advanced, 114,000-square-foot Klozure facility, used for manufacturing high-performance Garlock Klozure oil seals, bearing isolators, and mechanical seals.

Porous metals head West
Mott Corp., will showcase a variety of porous metal components, assemblies, and filters at MD&M West (Booth #3184) taking place in Anaheim, Calif. January 29 to 31. Porous metals withstand aggressive chemicals and high temperatures and pressures with no degradation in performance. They can be repeatedly sterilized or recycled. Applications include biocompatible porous titanium filters, implantable devices, metal filters in test stands, spargers used in cell-culture processes, filters to prevent plugging in catheters, and precision flow restrictors for gas delivery.

More TPU knowhow for Bayer MaterialScience
The Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) div. of Bayer MaterialScience has acquired the intellectual property rights of Collins & Aikman's TPU formulation and size reduction patents. This expands the BMS TPU group's portfolio of materials for instrument panel skins and other interior automotive applications. BMS already serves as the existing intermediate raw material supplier and can now integrate the size reduction process into its supply chain and offer this product to all interested interior component manufacturers.

More TPU capacity
Lubrizol Advanced Materials Inc., a subsidiary of Lubrizol Corp. has completed a new production line at its Avon Lake, Ohio, manufacturing facility. The addition will increase capacity 30% for Estane thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) products and will support growth of the business in the Americas region.

Boker's 2008 Washer Catalog
Boker's, Inc.'s FREE 2008 Washer Catalog has over 22,000 non-standard sizes available with no tooling charges. A wide range of ODs, IDs and thicknesses, plus 2,000 material variations provide millions of possibilities.
www.bokers.com/mde

High Integrity Die Cast Parts
Ideal for Off-Road and Recreational Vehicles. Provides high strength, superior fatigue life and pressure tightness versus traditional die casting. Learn more at www.fivestardiecasting.com

Thank you for reading the Materials Monthly Newsletter from Machine Design.
This email was sent to %%$email%%. You've received this e-newsletter for one of two reasons:
1) You signed up for it on one of our web sites.
2) You are a reader of Machine Design magazine.

Manage Your Subscription
To quickly unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here Unsubscribe
To subscribe or unsubscribe, to this or any of our newsletters, visit our subscription page.
To CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, visit our subscription page, login with your old email address, then change your address.

Contact Information
Editorial questions:   Jean Hoffman 303-998-9227
Advertising/sponsorship opportunities:   Virginia Goulding 216-931-9893

Machine Design
1300 E. 9th St.
Cleveland, OH 44114

©2008 Penton Media, Inc. All rights reserved.