HIGH TEMPERATURE | MATERIALS
Performing in the heat
The demands of high-heat operating environments are being addressed by suppliers of the latest engineering materials
High-temperature plastics are typically specified for their heat resistance, making them suitable for applications ranging from automotive to electron- ics. As well as specialised materials – including polyphenylene sulphide (PPS), polysulphone (PSU) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP) – there are high- performance engineering materials in the polyam- ide group which are also compounded for high- heat performance. Recent high-temperature plastic developments have appeared in a variety of guises. In one example, Meliori Polymer Engineering has begun using a PPS compound to make recyclable wafer frames for microchips at a new moulding facility. The company, based in Croatia, is making eight-inch wafer frames from a glass fibre- and mineral-filled grade. It says it is the only company that can manufacture, clean, ship and refurbish polymeric semiconductor support frames in Europe, from its 350 sq m facility in Croatia’s Šibenik Industrial Zone.
As well as an injection moulding cell from Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, the facility has a CNC
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machine to remove burrs from the eight-inch frames. There is also an automated washing and drying cell, a dedicated ISO Class 6 packaging cleanroom, and space to scale up and add two more production lines. “Rather than single-use components that
generate excess waste, we wanted to ensure that the frames were moulded from a robust material that could be returned to our facility – where they are quality-checked, refurbished, cleaned, re- packed and shipped back to customers,” said co-founder Antonia Omazić. Toray Industries has developed a flexible PPS, which it says offers high flame retardancy and heat resistance. The material is free of per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), giving it a cost- reduction advantage over fluoropolymers. Prospective applications include fittings, fasteners, protective components, cooling pipes and electrical parts. It also helps to reduce the number of parts. The proliferation of electrified vehicles and data centres has made components and electrical
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