SABIC IP ups investment in research center to develop materials for fluid handling systems

08-Nov-08

SABIC Innovative Plastics has invested in enhancements to its Fluid Engineering Center of Excellence in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands to provide most rigorous evaluation of its engineering thermoplastics in effective water systems and fluid handling systems. The mission of the Fluid Center of Excellence is to identify, evaluate and help optimize resins and compounds for fluid handling. Replacing traditional copper, stainless steel, and brass with SABIC Innovative Plastics' materials such as Noryl* resins and LNP* Lubricomp* compounds can help reduce costs, avoid the risk of lead exposure, enable part integration, and provide consistently high performance over a long lifespan. The company's Noryl and Noryl GTX* resins are used widely in water meter components and pump impellers, due to their low water absorption and dimensional stability that provide better accuracy and performance. LNP Lubricomp graphite-filled compounds are ideal for water applications such as water meter pistons due to their abrasion and wear resistance, hydrolytic and dimensional stability, and low coefficient of friction. Ultem* resin is an excellent material candidate for highly technical applications requiring high temperature, tight dimension and long term stability in combination with potable water approvals. The research center allows for long-term testing which is essential to help evaluate appropriate safety and durability of applications and conditions for each material. The Fluid Engineering Center, which already possesses constant pressure creep rupture (LTHS) and fatigue testing (fluctuating pressure) capabilities, has added new equipment and testing procedures: - Chlorine exposure test to measure the effect of chlorinated water - especially hot water - on plastics. - Hot-cold shock test to evaluate the durability of connectors and seals in water pipes exposed to rapid and repeated temperature changes. - Bending creep rupture test to study the long-term strength of bars exposed to hot water and a continuous load. In addition, the center has extended range of tests including applications such as boilers, faucets, pipe connectors and threaded pipes to evaluate the material behavior and performance in specific applications.