Page 21 - Engineering Plastics Handbook

Preface xix

washers, TPI jet engine outer platforms replacing aluminum, and TPI plus
metal hybrids. TPIs with wear resistance to mating metals and high tem-
perature resistance are used for thrust washers and seal rings. Signaling
the movement toward increasing use of non-load-bearing engineering
®
thermoplastics products, the author includes extruded AURUM TPI
used for wire and cable covering, film, and fiber. The chapter includes optic
fiber insulation, high heat and radiation resistant panels, woven and
braided fabrics for high-performance aircraft, and industrial products.
Specific melt processing conditions which the TPI processor needs to
know are described.
Chapter 11, “Liquid Crystal Polymer,” from Toray Industries sums up
the thermotropic LCP challenge to other engineering thermoplastics in
the first sentence, which states, “Polyester-based liquid crystal polymer
(LCP) is one of the most attractive materials in the field of engineering
thermoplastics because of its superior heat resistance, stiffness, accu-
racy of dimensions, moldability, and the excellent balance of these prop-
®
erties.” Toray Industries produces and supplies SIVERAS LCP grades
worldwide. Describing the chemistry of LCP polymerization, the author
points out that LCP polycondensation reactions can proceed without any
catalyst; in some cases “metallic compound” catalyst is used. The chap-
ter provides a clear description of the LCP science and technology
history and future, and divides LCP into the conventional classes,
Types I, II, and III. Toray Industries produces high-heat-resistant
Type II LCP, with improved flowability. The company has developed
“LCP, which has both the Type II comparable heat resistance and the Type
III competitive cost …’’ according to the author.
The chapter includes Toray Industries’ new LCP series with improved
weld strength and toughness using the company’s polymer nanotech-
nology. Among the numerous applications for LCP described in the chap-
ter, are super-miniaturized electronics, components for SMT (surface
mount technology), hard disc drive components, new automotive compo-
nents, connectors, sockets, switches, and sensors. Valuable insight into
®
SIVERAS properties is provided regarding reinforced, specialty filler, low
warpage (dimensional stability) grades and alloys. The high market poten-
tials are shown for blends and alloys composed of incompatible polymers
and LCP and polycarbonate/LCP using microcomposite technologies.
Melt-processing conditions for LCP, especially for precision molding, are
presented.
Chapter 12, “Polyamide-imide (PAI),” from Solvay Advanced Polymers
is a comprehensive and detailed analysis of PAI chemistry of polymer-
ization, products, properties, and processes. Solvay Advanced Polymers
®
produces and supplies Torlon PAI worldwide. The company is a sub-
sidiary of Solvay America, which is part of Solvay SA, Brussels, Belgium.
Early in the chapter, the author states, “All polyamide-imides that are