Engineering Materials

Energy Efficiency is the Big Buzz at Fakuma

The big buzz at the upcoming Fakuma injection molding show in Germany is energy efficiency. Because of soaring hydrocarbon prices, that’s what OEMs are emphasizing. Austrian OEM Engel  is showing what is describes as energy optimized, powerful machine designs.  Engel will show three fully electric machines and the e-victory hybrid machine. Arbug says it has a “holistic” approach. “On one hand, the goal is to produce the Allrounder machines using as little energy as possible,” says a spokesman. “On the other, Arburg seeks to use its products and expertise in order to efficiently minimize energy consumption among its customers.” Four Arburg machines at the Fakuma bear the “e²” energy efficiency label: two from the electric Allrounder A series and two hydraulic Allrounder S series machines with electromechanical dosage drive.

Plastic Composite Bridge Debuts in Germany

Bridge and other infrastructure failures have been generating significant headlines in the United States. The German state Hesse has a new idea: plastic composite bridges. Europe’s’ first road bridge made of fiber-reinforced thermoset polymer opened recently, spanning a federal highway north of Frankfurt. The initial cost of the materials is higher, but there are long-term maintenance benefits. The pultruded polymer structure is also less than one-fourth the weight of a pre-stressed concrete superstructure. It’s not a giant bridge – just 89 feet long by 16 feet wide. It weighs 80 metric tons.

Some big problems had to solved, including adhesive bonding of the sections and testing. Materials being evaluated for bridge construction include glass and carbon fibers and matrix polymers of vinyl ester, epoxy and polyester. Officials say the new German bridge, located in the town of Friedberg, is expected to last 50 years without repairs. The bridge is made of FRP polymer glued to steel sections. The bridge was prefabricated and assembled on site in one day.

Boron-Rich HDPE Can Replace Concrete in Nukes

I’ve heard of several new plastics that make excellent metal replacements. But concrete? That’s a first for me. A hydrogen-rich polymer loaded with boron actually can replace concrete as neutron-shielding material in nuclear power plants or nuclear submarines. The new Quadrant EPP material is currently available in machinable 1-inch x 48-inch x 96-inch plates. Borotron HD050 is a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) enhanced with 5 percent elemental boron to provide extra shielding against neutron radiation. The combination of boron within a matrix of HDPE, a naturally hydrogen-rich material, targets nuclear shielding applications.  Hydrogen-rich materials attenuate neutrons extremely well and boron has an affinity for absorbing thermalized neutrons. Potential uses include shielding for radiation therapy rooms, where the product in plate form is integrated into the wall structure. Other application areas include nuclear research centers, nuclear power plants, power generation areas in nuclear submarines, production areas for nuclear detection devices and the equipment itself, and spacecraft exposed to radiation. Borotron HD050 plate is lighter than some other neutron shielding materials such as concrete, and easier to work with in construction than other options including water. The formulation was engineered by Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products (Quadrant EPP).