What's New
Spectroscopy System Performs Real-Time Analysis
Titan industrial Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy systems provide real-time, multi-component extractive gas-phase analysis for such applications as industrial hygiene, composite epoxy materials (CEM), process optimization/control, specialty gas quality-control, and research. They are packaged with externally mounted, corrosion-resistant gas cells, whose pathlengths range from 1 cm to 60 m. Thermal isolation enables operation at temperatures from ambient to 240_C, allowing moist sample streams to be analyzed without condensation. Combined with customized infrared (IR) detectors for ultimate sensitivity, these systems can achieve low-ppb detection levels for most compounds of interest. They can be equipped with optical switching between sample cells to accommodate the need for different sample pathlengths or to prevent cross-contamination.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
MIDAC Corp.
www.midac.com
Compact Spectrometer is Versatile and Portable
This portable, hand-held Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer weighs approximately 6 lb. Specifically designed for field-based surface- and bulk-analysis applications, the portable, compact analyzer can be operated using only one hand. Because it can handle attenuated total reflectance (ATR) applications, it is also useful in the general laboratory. This versatility makes the device competitive with much larger and more expensive traditional analytical FTIR spectrometers.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
A2 Technologies
www.a2technologies.com
Fuseless Surge Protectors Provide Uninterrupted Protection
The Strikesorb surge protection device (SPD) provides continuous protection from over-voltage and other transient voltage activity for industrial equipment, such as variable-speed drives (VSDs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and power cabinets. Available in a wide variety of voltage and packaging configurations, SPD modules protect equipment from lightning strikes, power surges and spikes without performance deterioration. The modules meet IEC 61643-1 and UL 1449 (2nd edition) requirements. Their unique fuseless design, along with their ability to withstand high short-circuit currents, allows direct installation on bus-bars and eliminates the need to install additional fuses or interconnection wires. Strikesorb modules are comprised of a single, large distribution-grade metal oxide varistor (MOV) disc in an environmentally sealed aluminum housing that provides uniform distribution of the surge current over the total area of the MOV protection element. This results in a high energy-handling capability with ultra-low let-through voltage to the industrial equipment. The monolithic design provides a straight electrical path directly to the suppression element, providing extremely low contact resistance and superior heat dissipation to prevent aging and premature failure.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Raycap Inc.
www.raycapinc.com
24-Port Switch Builds Cost-Effective Small Business Networks
Using twenty-four 10/100 connections and two copper gigabit ports, the standalone, unmanaged EZSwitch SMCFS26 simplifies and extends networks, providing high-speed, high-bandwidth connections. Typically placed at the center of a small network or at the edge of a larger one, the SCFS26 makes clear connections at distances to 100 m, and delivers a complete, efficient small network with fast 1G server links. It also features auto-MDIX to reduce the complexity of installation while eliminating the need for straight-through and cross-over cabling for connecting PCs or other networking devices. Its compact, fanless design makes it suitable for desktop or rack-mount placement, and its non-blocking architecture ensures smooth, reliable performance.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
SMC Networks
www.smc.com
Soft Silicones Stay Strong
The KE2004 Series of liquid injection molding system (LIMSTM) silicones combines a low hardness with enhanced physical properties and improved processing control. Despite their low hardness, these silicones have high tear strength and viscosity, resulting in strong products with a soft feel. Their high tear strength allows for demolding of parts — particularly those with thin walls — without tearing and creating scrap. The materials were developed so that they could be pumped with an adequate injection speed, but still have a high enough viscosity to minimize flash and provide a balanced mold-flow. The KE2004-20 offers a high elongation of 870% and is compliant with food contact regulations (21 CFR 177.2600). The KE2004-5 and KE2004-10 are better suited in manufacturing such cushioning products as orthotics, cheek and forehead pads, and ergonomic and gel-like grips.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Shin-Etsu Silicones of America Inc.
www.shinetsusilicones.com
Heat-Resistant TPVs Easily Bond with Nylon
Available in black and in colors, the new B500 grade family of Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) has been developed for cold-insert overmolding applications that require a very strong bond with nylon. With high-bond-retention values and high-temperature resistance, the new grades enable the design and manufacture of nylon parts with the quality performance properties of a TPV, which include: long-term sealability; a durable slip-resistant feel; an excellent compression set; chemical, oil and heat resistance; and enhanced bond integrity to extend product life. Available in Shore 60 and 75 A grades, this technology permits overmolds as thin as 0.5 mm to be achieved, whereas competitive materials can require a thickness of at least 1.5 mm to attain a similar bond.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
ExxonMobil Chemical
www.exxonmobilchemical.com
Clear Silicone Gel Spreads Easily
Silsoft is an innovative, competitively priced silicone gel with outstanding sensory performance. It is suitable for use in making value-priced color cosmetics and skin-care products that deliver performance benefits comparable to high-end products. It offers enhanced compatibility with organic materials, such as UV filters, and does not have the “balling” effect associated with traditional elastomers. A crystal clear gel, it spreads easily and leaves a silky feel on the skin. It is cold-processable and can withstand high-shear conditions. The gel’s performance benefits may enhance a wide range of products, including foundations, skin care creams and lotions, anhydrous serums, hair-care products and sunscreens.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Momentive Performance Materials
www.momentive.com
Anti-Wear Additive is Non-Metallic
Non-corrosive to copper and lead, the Naugalube 810 is a sulfated ash-free anti-wear additive that contains no chlorine, nitrogen or sulfur, and 0.05 wt.% or less phosphorus. Its performance has been proven in rigorous wear and no-harm testing, including four-ball and Cameron-Plint engine-oil wear evaluations, Cameron-Plint friction-testing, Cu/Pb corrosion evaluation, and additive compatibility and thermal behavior tests. Typical treatment rates range from 0.5 wt.% to 1.0 wt.%. Compatible with other additive components, it is suitable for use in a broad range of base stocks — Groups I to IV. This additive is non-deposit forming on thermal degradation.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Chemtura Corp.
www.chemtura.com
Hardened Potting Compound is Water-Resistant
A flexible, tough epoxy-potting and encapsulation compound that is easily applied, EP30FL has extraordinarily low viscosity and superior electrical insulation properties. It can be used in both thick and thin cross-sections. This compound is 100% reactive and does not contain any volatiles. It generates low exotherms during curing even though it cures relatively quickly at room temperature. Shrinkage upon curing is exceptionally low. It has excellent adhesion to both similar and dissimilar substrates. Suitable for use in environments that are exposed to thermal cycling, it can withstand mechanical shock and vibration. It is available in 1/2-pint, pint, quart, gallon and 5-gal pail kits.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Master Bond, Inc.
www.masterbond.com
Plate-Sealing Films Come in Sheets
SealPlate MiniStrips sealing films are now available in a multi-strip sheet format, as well as one or two 8-well rows on a strip-well or standard 96-well microplates. Each sheet contains four MiniStrips that can be peeled off individually or two-at-a-time for application to plates. The dimensions of the individual MiniStrips (which have not changed) are 19.0 by 103.2 mm, including two removable positioning tabs. SealPlate polyester sealing films minimize evaporation and prevent spillage and contamination between wells. They provide a secure seal, not just a cover, for incubations and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Excel Scientific, Inc.
www.excelscientific.com
Silicon-Based Nanomaterials are Available in Pilot-Scale Volumes
Using the manufacturer’s proprietary laser pyrolysis process, a new class of silicon nanoscale materials has been developed for applications involving electronics, energy, display and solid-state lighting. This suite of materials offers a significant design advantage for products that require precise composition and size control at nanoscale. Silicon nano-particles made using the nanoparticle manufacturing (NPM) process are tailored for size, structure and morphology, featuring average nanoparticle sizes as low as 15 nm and the high purity levels required for semiconductor and electronics applications. The availability of these materials is particularly useful to keep up with the supply needs of the recent, significant advances in silicon-based energy technologies, including silicon batteries, solar cells and printed electronics. Nanoscale silicon nitride phosphors enable the manufacture of nano- to submicron-size rare-earth-doped alkaline earth nitride and oxynitride phosphors, which are particularly suited to making warm white light LEDs.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
NanoGram Corp.
www.nanogram.com
Latex Resin is Environmentally Friendly
Beckosol AQ alkyd latex-based resins are designed to provide alkyd-like performance in a waterborne vehicle with no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Customers who employ these resins should be able to stay ahead of increased VOC regulatory constraints for the next 10 to 15 years. Reformulating products to meet new VOC regulations is often expensive. This technology requires only one formulation to meet compliance and includes two products: the AQ 100 and AQ 200. Beckosol AQ 100 is a soya-based, long-oil alkyd resin, which is provided at 55% solids. Beckosol AQ 200 is soya-based, medium-oil alkyd resin, which is also provided at 55% solids. As soya-based products, the resins are produced from renewable resources — soy beans. Production requires less petrochemical feedstock raw materials than conventional latex products.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Reichhold
www.reichhold.com
Nanoengineered Additives Improve Scratch Resistance and Gloss Retention
These nanoengineered dispersions increase the scratch resistance and gloss retention of water-based coatings so that their performance can equal that of oil-based organic systems. The dispersions enable an applied coating to resist scratching and marring and retain high gloss by up to 80%. They produce a 300% to 400% improvement in scratch resistance compared to commercially available water-based coatings. These products come in the form of highly stable dispersions containing 30–50 wt.% nanoparticles. The additives provide dramatic performance improvements at nanoparticle loading levels as low as 0.5 wt.%. The technology is suitable for use in the manufacturing of nanocrystalline metal oxides, the surface engineering of nanoparticles, and the dispersion of nanoparticles into application-specific fluids.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Nanophase Technologies
www.nanophase.com
Thermoplastic Elastomer Stays Soft at Low Temperatures
Versaflex CL E95 TPE is a phthalate-free thermoplastic elastomer that provides water clarity, sterilization capability and low extractables. It is stable under gamma and autoclave sterilization and can be customized to have a variety of different hardnesses, custom colors, and flow properties. The standard product has a 95 Shore A hardness and a specific gravity of 0.90, with tensile strength up to 2,500 psi and elongation up to 575%. It is well-suited for use in a variety of extruded tubing and films, as well as blow-molded bags and containers. The CL E95 TPE was developed for applications requiring a clear, sterilizable, low-extractable TPE with no phthalates, such as medical tubing, drug storage and delivery, face masks, and infant-care products.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
GLS Corp.
www.glscorporation.com
Metal-Infused Plastic Enhances Durability
The LNP Faradex DS 1003 FR HI composite is a polycarbonate-based material infused with stainless steel fibers. The material replaces plastics typically used in shielding applications that require a secondary metal coating, such as a labor-intensive copper overspray that often is applied unevenly. This compound provides an enhanced shielding effectiveness of 40–55 db (at 0.125 in.) and flame retardance that supports requirements for the elimination of halogenated additives, as well as high impact resistance and low shrinkage.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
SABIC Innovative Plastics
www.sabic-ip.com
Verification System Facilitates Quality Control
The multichannel verification system (MVS) was developed to streamline the verification of automated liquid-handler performance. Rapid and easy-to-use, the instrument provides National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST)-traceable accuracy and precision data that document the volume-dispensing performance of each channel of an automated liquid handler. New system enhancements facilitate in-process quality-control assessment and minimize manual intervention during volume verification protocols, adding convenience and saving time. Dispensed volumes are measured in multiple microtiter plates without repeated manual input, allowing lab technicians to spend less time performing equipment quality-control checks. The system permits users to store each step of the liquid-handler quality-control protocols in the MVS software for future access.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
ARTEL Technology
www.artel-usa.com
Corrosive-Resistant Valve is Versatile
The Halar true union ball valve can operate as a manual valve or be paired with pneumatic or electric actuators. Its design allows for flow and pressure in either direction, and eliminates the stress inherent to a ball secured only at the top. It is constructed of the most corrosive-resistant thermoplastic material available — a 1:1 alternating copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE), containing about 80% CTFE. This is the best material for handling high concentrations of sodium hypochlorite and 98+% sulfuric acid. It has good electrical properties and a broad temperature range, from cryogenic to 300°F (150°C). Available in sizes from 0.5 in. to 1.0 in., the valves turn smoothly even in the most difficult applications.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Asahi/America, Inc.
www.asahi-america.com
These Versatile Agitators Reduce Operational Costs
The Model 20 HT/GT agitator features a swing-out seal-change design that eliminates the need to lift or remove the gearbox. The top of the seal pedestal opens for a clear, line-of-site view with ample room for removing the coupling half and seal assembly. Its high-efficiency gearbox has helical gearing and a parallel shaft configuration made specifically for agitator service applications. It is suitable for use in the chemical, pharmaceutical, ethanol and biofuels, water and wastewater industries.
Appeared In Issue: March 2008
Chemineer, Inc
www.chemineer.com