COMPOSITES A NEW DIMENSION A


s industries increasingly prioritise sustainability, an environmentally responsible material


that also offers high durability, good lifespan and energy-efficient production is crucial. Industrial Summit Technology (IST) Corporation believes its newly launched advanced polyimide fibre Imiditex fulfils this brief. The material is designed to work


in synergy with traditional glass and carbon fibres to enhance their performance and unlock “unprecedented” applications, all while offering a high 3.0GPa tensile strength, a continuous use temperature exceeding 250°C, and an ultra-low water absorption rate of less than 0.9%. “One of the most unique


characteristics of Imiditex is its vibration damping and shock absorption,” says Toshiko Sakane, CEO and president of IST Corporation. “As well as its high temperature and UV resistance, it is lighter than both glass fibre and carbon fibre so when combined with these materials it can form much lighter composite parts.” When using conventional materials,


design engineers are often faced with trade-offs between strength, weight and flexibility. Imiditex, however, can be integrated seamlessly into composite structures to complement and expand the functional capabilities of existing parts. When combined with carbon or glass fibres, the material provides superior vibration damping, improved impact resistance and significant weight reduction without compromising the structural integrity of the part, and without replacing conventional composite fibres. “We have had lots of enquiries


from the automotive and aerospace sectors for reducing vibration issues, such as engine wing vibration or spoiler wing vibration,” Sakane says. “Also, far less energy is needed to produce Imiditex when compared to carbon fibre, for instance.”


Imiditex provides numerous performance enhancements to existing composite materials


ENHANCE OVER REPLACE When incorporated into composite structures, Imiditex can provide numerous performance enhancements through its excellent electromagnetic transparency, low transmission loss, and high impact resistance and durability. “Essentially, Imiditex retains the


existing properties of polyimide such as heat resistance, low water absorption and high strength which makes it ideal for high-performance composite applications,” Sakane continues. By enhancing rather than


replacing existing composites, Imiditex is poised to unlock new possibilities across a wide range of applications, such as telecommunication devices, sports equipment, automotive and mobility components, infrastructure, medical devices, and aerospace and satellite technologies.


VERSATILE APPLICATIONS Within the field of aerospace, saving weight while ensuring structural integrity is a crucial requirement for composite components. Imiditex


fulfils both of these demands, leading to improved fuel efficiency and ensuring durability in extreme environments. The fibre’s vibration damping properties improve part stability, while its electromagnetic transparency make it well suited to applications in which radio wave transmission is essential, such as aircraft communication systems and satellite components. Lightweight and durable materials


are also highly sort after within the automotive sector as the industry looks to improve its sustainability credentials. Imiditex enhances vehicle components by reducing weight and improving impact resilience, leading to better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. According to Sakane, integrating the fibre into automotive composite parts will support the next generation of transportation innovations. Contributing to longer-lasting


composite structures, Imiditex reduces material waste and minimises the need for replacement parts. Production of the fibre is also considerably more energy- efficient than other composite fibres, generating approximately one fifth of the CO2 emissions associated with carbon fibre manufacturing.


www.engineerlive.com 37


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52