SABIC Innovative Plastics' High-Performance Materials Help Domestic Boiler Manufacturers Replace Metals

New high performance resins outperform metals in domestic boiler components

23-Apr-09

SABIC Innovative Plastics offers high-performance Noryl, Ultem and Cycoloy resins to replace traditional metals such as copper and brass used in residential wall-hung condensing boiler components, such as condenser housings and manifolds. These engineering thermoplastics, developed and tested at the company's Fluid Engineering Center of Excellence (Netherlands), are said to enhance design freedom, extend part life, and avoid the use of heavy metals such as lead. For high-efficiency condensing boilers, which are growing annually by 10% in Europe, Noryl PPX resin (alloy of polyphenylene ether and polypropylene) offers a better choice than stainless steel for condenser housings. While metal corrodes when highly exposed to chemicals, Noryl PPX resin are said to provide exceptional chemical resistance for increased longevity of part life and ability to withstand the required heat from the condenser. In boiler manifolds, by replacing brass (which contains lead) with Noryl glass-filled resin or Ultem resin (family of amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimide resins), manufacturers may be able to consolidate parts, create new products more easily, reduce weight, and save on fabrication and assembly costs. Another application area is the boiler control panel cover and enclosure components, typically made of painted sheet metal. SABIC - IP's flame-retardant Cycoloy resins (amorphous family of PC/ABS blends) offer excellent aesthetics and surface finishes combined with high-flow properties to mold thin-wall parts. National health institutes worldwide specify requirements of polymers in potable water like Kunststoffe im Trinkwasser (KTW) and the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) in Germany. The company says both Noryl and Ultem resin grades from SABIC innovative Plastics possess an extensive listing for tests like these.