Plastics, Metals, and Other Materials 12120

Precolored compounds

Chroma-Shift materials can create parts with a geometric metamerism effect-a chameleon-like change of color as viewing angle shifts. RTP offers these precolored compounds in a variety of light-transmitting resins, including ABS, polystyrene, and acrylic. Color combinations include green/ blue, maroon/gold, gold/green, gold/black, blue/red, and purple/green. Recently, a polystyrene Color-Shift compound saw use in a line of injection-molded sun visors.

RTP Co. , Box 5439, Winona, MN 55987-0439; FAX (507) 454-2041; www. rtpcompany.com.

ESD protection

VU-Stat(TM)C-37 is a transparent static dissipative acrylic multipolymer compound which is said to provide permanent ESD protection to static discharge-sensitive electronic parts. The material was specifically designed for injection molding applications, and is said to demonstrate superior ESD characteristics and a balance of mechanical, thermal, and flow properties.

Cyro Industries , 100 Enterprise Dr., Rockaway, NJ 07866-5055; FAX (973) 442-6117; www.cyro.com.

Insulation

Refractory Sheet Type RS-A Moldable is a ceramic fiber-reinforced insulation used in high temperature/high thermal shock applications since it reportedly contains no asbestos. The product is a wet blanket which forms into a variety of simple and complex shapes, and dries to a strong rigid shape which can be re-wetted to restore moldability.

Zircar Products , Box 489, Florida, NY 10921; FAX (914) 651-1515; www.zrci. com.

Glass sealants

Glass sealing preforms from this company are designed for use in high-volume production of hermetic glass-to-metal seals where preformed frames, multi-hole parts, and rings permit the introduction of a finite amount of sealing glass. The manufacturer says it is able to customize the product to match the expansion coefficients of a variety of metals.

Morgan Advanced Ceramics ; FAX (724) 537-4910; www.morganadvanced- ceramics.com.

Sputtering targets

This company offers a range of evaporation and sputtering materials, designed to precise specifications. Targets are available in 62 metals or alloys, and in compounds such as borides, carbides, fluorides, nitrides, oxides, selenides, silicides, sulphides, and tellurides. Thin layers of other metals can also be melted onto the surface, and the product can also be heat treated, remelted, or alloyed.

Goodfellow Corp. , 800 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn, PA 19312; FAX (800) 283-2020; www.goodfellow.com.

Plastic clarifier

MILLAD3988 is a clarifying agent for polypropylene which is said to produce a clearer finished product. The material is designed to be pre-compounded with Exxon ACHIEVE(TM)Propylene Polymer 1635, which is then blended with Exxon EXACT0203 metallocene polyethylene and the company's ClearTintcolorant.

Milliken Chemical , 920 Milliken Rd., Box 1927, M-400, Spartansburg, SC 29304; www.milliken.com.

Mold release

XTEND 19SAM is a semi-permanent mold release developed for use with cast polymer and solid surface production. The reactive resin solution is said to crosslink and cure on the mold surface to produce a durable release coating which reportedly withstands the abrasion of highly filled resins as well as the rigors of solid surface processing. It is said to cure quickly at ambient temperature and does not require polishing.

Axel Plastics Research Laboratories , 5820 Broadway, Woodside, NY 11377.

Suction cups

Anver SIT-2000 Silicone Suction Cups are molded from a clear, dye-free compound. The material is said to be soft, pliable, and resistant to temperatures up to 600F. The product is available in flat-, single-, and multi-bellows configurations in sizes from 5 to 150 mm in diameter. The cups are said to be FDA approved.

Venmark Int'l. , 148 Linden St. Wellesley, MA 02482; FAX (781) 237-5862.