Professional Plastics acquires Adapt Plastics & Hi-Tech Polymers of Loves Park, Illinois

Professional Plastics, Inc. has recently acquired Adapt Plastics, Inc and Hi-Tech Polymers LLC of Loves Park, Illinois from founder Larry Phippen.  Established in 1974, Adapt Plastics is a distributor and fabricator of precision machined plastic parts used in food processing, pharmaceutical, automotive, aerospace, and material handling industries.

Adapt Plastics offers CNC turning, milling and routing services for machining of prototype, custom, low-volume and small run plastic parts.  High-quality single or multiple machining processes are available for a variety of needs, with tolerances down to +/-.001" achieved on turn diameters up to 18", and bar diameters up to 4".  Parts up to 60" x 36" may be milled, and parts up to 22 foot x 5 foot may be routed.

Hi-Tech Polymers is a molder of rigid and flexible cast urethane parts.  HTP offers complete molding & fabrication services using RTM, low-pressure injection & vacuum casting.  Urethane elastomers are available in molded durometers from 10A thru 80D in both Ether & Ester with dual durometer molding, inserting & pigmenting to color.  Specialty materials include FDA filled systems, PTFE, bronze, moly & UV inhibitors.

For more information about Adapt Plastics and Hi-Tech Polymers, please visit www.adaptplastics.com or call Chris Kietzke at (858) 637-2801

Why Designers Continue To Replace Metal Parts With Engineering Plastics

Mechanical engineers and designers are increasingly replacing existing metals parts with components made from engineering plastics. A common misconception is that this trend is based purely on reducing the initial cost per part, but the reality is quite different. Engineering plastics are often more expensive than metals, but provide benefits such as improved performance, longer part life, and reduced downtime. This long-term, “overall cost of ownership” approach is driving a strong market for engineered plastic solutions.


Here are a few of the product features and benefits that are driving the trend towards increased use of engineering plastics.

Wear Resistance
In high-wear applications, many plastic materials will outperform brass & other metal bearing materials. Plastics such as Nylon, UHMW, PTFE, Acetal and Turcite® offer natural lubricity to increase wear resistance and extend the part life of bearings, rollers, gears, and seals.

Lightweight
When replacing metal parts, plastics will typically reduce the part weight by 30% to 50%.This can translate to significant energy savings when used in applications such as transportation, linear motion, and material handling.

Temperature Resistance
Plastics, ceramics, and composites have been developed which resist both extremely high & extremely low cryogenic temperature ranges with minimal loss of mechanical properties. Materials such as Celazole® PBI can continually operate at up to 750°F, while materials such as Kel-F® PCTFE can operate at -400°F.

Impact Resistance & Shock Absorption
Many plastics and composites offer excellent impact resistance. Materials such as Polycarbonate are used for impact-resistant glazing and shields. Nylon and Polyurethane will absorb impact shock and isolate stress points to protect surrounding components.

Insulation Properties
Many plastics have excellent insulation properties, reducing heat, and improving product reliability. Laminates such as G-10/FR-4, GPO-3 and LE Phenolic are used extensively in electrical and transportation industries to insulate from heat and electrical shock. Thermoplastics such as PTFE and Meldin® work well in high-temperature insulating applications.

Corrosion Resistance
Metals are inherently susceptible to corrosion from moisture, acids, and organic solvents. Many plastics were designed specifically to combat these problems. Materials such as PVC, CPVC, Polypropylene, and PTFE offer superior corrosion resistance at an economical price.

Medical Approval
Many plastics have been approved for use in medical applications ranging from heart pump valves to endoscopic instruments. Products meet FDA, USP Class VI, and ISO 10993 standards. Such materials include Radel®, PEEK, Ultem®, and Polycarbonate.

Fire Safe
Dozens of plastic materials have been developed to meet common aircraft, transportation, semiconductor, and UL ratings for flame and smoke safety. Specifications include FAR, FTA, FRA, ASTM, UL and FM. In the semiconductor industry materials meeting the FM-4910 specification have reduced or eliminated the need for costly fire-suppression systems, and thus have reduced overall equipment costs. In some cases, the use of these materials have even reduced insurance costs in high-liability applications. Common flame-retardant and flame-safe materials include: Kydex®, Boltaron®, Halar®, CP7-D, FRPP, Corzan® CPVC, and Kynar® 740 PVDF.

High Purity
Plastics have long been a crucial product used in the manufacturing of high-purity fluid & gas handling applications. Many plastics have eliminated the concerns of out-gassing, leaching, and other contamination in crucial high-purity systems. These products include: PTFE, PFA, FEP, Halar® and Kynar® PVDF.

Static Control
Several plastics and composites have anti-static qualities to prevent the build up of an electric charge. Products range from conductive materials 10^2-10^6, and static dissipative 10^6-10^10, to highly resistive materials 10^10-10^12.


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To learn more, contact Professional Plastics, Inc. or please visit www.professionalplastics.com

Plastic Fabricating Tools & Accessories Online

A full-range of Plastic Fabricating Tools and Accessories are available from Professional Plastics' website.  Creating acrylic displays, boxes, podiums and sheilds is easy when the right supplies are available.  Professional Plastics offers cutting tools, polishing tools, buffing compounds, welding products, adhesives, hinges, strip heaters and more.

For more information and to Order Online, click here:
http://www.professionalplastics.com/PlasticToolsAccessories
Professional Plastics operated 16 stocking locations in the USA.
Call (888) 995-7767 to reach the nearest location.

Polystone® M XDT - New X-Ray Detectable UHMW-PE Shapes

Polystone® M XDT (X-Ray Detectable UHMW-PE) is available from Professional Plastics, Inc.
Röchling Engineering Plastics continues to set trends and provide solutions in the food processing and pharmaceutical industries when it comes to product safety and quality assurance – announcing the first X-ray detectable UHMW-PE available in the market.

Repeated handling, cleaning and normal wear and tear of plastic component parts on food, beverage and pharmaceutical processing machinery increases the risk of a fragment breaking off and contaminating the product during processing.

The need for traceable plastics, especially machined parts for filling, sorting and packaging machinery is critical due to strict FDA regulations regarding foreign materials and contaminants. Since we introduced our line of Metal Detectable engineering plastics (Polystone M MDT (UHMW-PE) and Sustarin C MDT (Acetal)) more than two years ago, these unique products continue be an effective solution for plastic parts used in open product zone applications.

However moving forward, we quickly realized a demand for X-ray detectable plastic parts for today's high speed machinery as processors turn to X-ray inspection equipment especially for post-package inspection. Working together with one of the world's largest food processors and a leading manufacturer of X-ray inspection systems, our Polystone M XDT has proven to be detected with a particle size as small as a 3mm cube. Running at speeds as fast as 250 feet-per-minute, this product can be detected and automatically sorted to a product hold area for further inspection. It works effectively with various types of packaging including metal cans, plastic and composite containers and glass jars.

Applications: - Scraper blades - Mixer Components - Baffles - Filler plates - Wear plates - Pillow blocks - Pocket fillers - Volumetric fillers - Cups & Sleeves - Piston fillers - Hopper guides - Dividers

Polystone® M XDT can be detected as small as a 3mm cube.

Polystone® M XDT - the industry's first X-ray detectable UHMW-PE

Note:  It is the responsibility of the user to test and approve the detection of this product due to variations in x-ray detection systems and required sensitivity settings.

Polystone® M XDT is available in both sheets, rods and fabricated parts to your specifications.
Rods: .500" to 6" diameter (12.7mm to 152mm)
Sheets: 3/8" to 4" thick (9.52mm to 101mm)

Click here to order online or request a custom quote: http://www.professionalplastics.com/PolystoneM_XDT_X-RayDetectableUHMW


PROFESSIONAL PLASTICS, INC.
www.professionalplastics.com
sales@proplas.com

Fluorosint® HPV Wear Resistant, FDA-Compliant PTFE Bearing Material

Fluorosint® HPV PTFE - Most Wear Resistant Fluorosint Grade - Outlasts Low-Tech PTFE Based Materials.

Quadrant's FDA-compliant Fluorosint HPV is a mica-filled high-performance bearing grade that can deliver a pressure velocity (PV) performance improvement of more than 40 per cent over other PTFE materials according to in-house tests conducted by Quadrant. Parts made of Fluorosint HPV can withstand higher loads and velocities while delivering better wear resistance, enabling the part to last longer compared to existing FDA-compliant PTFE-based materials. The product was specially developed to meet the demands of high-performance bearing applications where other, low-technology PTFE formulations would exhibit premature wear or not perform adequately. These characteristics, together with FDA compliance for food and pharmaceutical applications, open up interesting new options for engineers and manufacturers. Simply put, parts machined from Fluorosint HPV last longer than those made from many of the alternative filled PTFE materials on the market today. Fluorosint HPV can replace bronze, steel and powdered metal parts and deliver performance gains in wear life and system performance. Typical applications include thrust washers, wear guides, seals and food processing and preparation equipment.

FDA compliant Fluorosint HPV PTFE is a high performance bearing grade of Fluorosint - optimized for high PV and very low "K" or wear factor. Fluorosint HPV PTFE was developed for bearing applications where other, low-tech PTFE formulations exhibit premature wear or simply cannot perform. FDA compliance gives food and pharmaceutical equipment manufacturers new design options and all benefit from its excellent load bearing and wear characteristics.
Features of Fluorosint® HPV PTFE:

Most Wear Resistant Fluorosint Grade - Outlasts Low-tech PTFE Based Materials

FDA compliant

Optimized for high PV and very low "K" or wear factor.

Developed for bearing applications where other low-tech PTFE formulations exhibit premature wear.

Typical applications include thrust washers, wear guides, seals and food processing and preparation equipment.

Professional Plastics supplies a full range of Fluorosint products through their 16 locations throughout the USA and Singapore.  Complete technical data and pricing is available online at:  http://www.professionalplastics.com/FluorosintHPV

Hundreds of Plastic Materials in One Place

The development of new formulations of plastic materials has experienced explosive growth over the last several years.  Keeping up with these new formulations and maintining an edge in the global marketplace has never been more difficult.  Fortunately, Professional Plastics, Inc (Fullerton, CA) provides their customers with a simple and easy-to-use solution.  The Professional Plastics website gives designers and application engineers a tool for selecting just the right material for their application.  The company has developed tools including their Sortable Properties Tool, plus FDA, NSF, and USDA Agency Approval Guides.  The Soratable Properties Tool even allows designers to select multiple products and create customer side-by-side Data Comparision Tables.  The company also provides product application guides and other technical data to support the most demanding needs of their customers. 

Sortable Material Data Sheets:

http://www.professionalplastics.com/PlasticMaterialsbyProperties

Regulatory Agency Approvals:

http://www.professionalplastics.com/RegulatoryAgencyApprovalsbyMaterial

Plastic Sheet Materials (product images and descriptions)

http://www.professionalplastics.com/PLASTIC-SHEETS

For more information, call (888) 995-7767 or e-mail to sales@proplas.com for customer service.

Tygon® B-44-3 Beverage Tubing Available from Professional Plastics

Tygon® B-44-3 Beverage Tubing is specially formulated for transferring a wide variety of beverages including soft drinks, fruit juices, flavored teas and bottled water. In virtually all cases, Tygon® Beverage Tubing will not affect the taste or odor of product transferred through it, while its excellent non-wetting properties facilitate complete drainage and permit simple flush-cleaning.

Many of the unique properties inherent to Tygon® Beverage Tubing also apply to a wide variety of complex applications ranging from fine cosmetic production to the dispensing of water-based printing inks found in the publishing industry. The versatility and proven performance of Tygon® B44-3 Beverage Tubing have made it today's most widely specified clear, flexible plastic tubing.



Benefits of Tygon B-44-3 Tubing:

•Taste-free and odor-free
•Non-wetting surface permits thorough cleaning and complete drainage
•Broad chemical resistance to virtually all non-solvent chemicals
•Lightweight and flexible for easy, quick installation
•Meets FDA, 3-A and NSF criteria
 
Order Online at http://www.professionalplastics.com/TYGONB44-3 or call (888) 995-7767
E-Mail: sales@proplas.com

KYDEX® Sheet Available from Professional Plastics Website

KYDEX® sheet is manufactured by Kleerdex Company, a supply partner of Professional Plastics. KYDEX® sheet is an extremely durable thermoplastic alloys extruded in a range of colors, patterns, textures, thicknesses and grades. Specialized grades of KYDEX® sheet meet specific UL, FAR, MVSS, ASTM and/or BS fire ratings , and exhibit exceptional mechanical properties and chemical resistance required to produce components intended for demanding applications.

Grades of  KYDEX® sheet:

•KYDEX 100 Ultra high impact, high performance, fire-rated sheet suitable for a broad range of demanding applications.

•KYDEX 101 White #62000 or black #52114 substrate with colored, weatherable cap for thermoforming letter backs of electrical signage. Eliminates painting.

•KYDEX 107 For National Sanitation Foundation applications. Numerous textures/sizes, limited colors. FDA approved raw materials. Cost competitive with ABS sheet.

•KYDEX 110 Super tough, durable METALLIC-colored, a proprietary alloy sheet, sets new standards for thermoformers in: formability, rigidity, breakage resistance, fire retardancy and aesthetics.

•KYDEX 115 Rigid, sag-resistant ceiling panel grade in .080" (2.03mm) thickness, available pre-cut. Class 10 rated for clean rooms. Also for food plants, computer rooms, operating rooms, etc.

•KYDEX 130 High performance sheet with integral granite pattern in five colors. Rated Class I/A for non-wallcovering applications. UL 94 V-0 and 5V fire rating.

•KYDEX 150 High performance sheet for building product applications. Rated Class I/A in gauges to .060" (1.52mm); Class II/B in gauges to 0.093" (2.36mm). UL listed.

•KYDEX 152 AR Super tough, durable sheet sets new standards for thermoformers and membrane pressers in formability, rigidity, breakage resistance, and abrasion resistance.

•KYDEX 152 WG Super tough, durable sheet is available in five aesthetically pleasing woodgrain patterns. This material brings new dimensions to thermoformers and membrane pressers in extensibility, toughness, and fire retardancy in a woodgrain design.

•KYDEX 160 High performance sheet for building product and clean room applications. Rated Class I/A and Class 10 in gauges to .125" (3.12mm). UL listed.

•KYDEX 160A A thermoplastic sheet that is used for laminating and thermoforming applications. Meets the Australian fire retardant properties of AS 1530.3 and 1530.4.

•KYDEX 161 A proprietary, high performance thermoplastic sheet that meets the M1 requirement for the French Epiradiateur Test NFP 92-501.

•KYDEX 1900 Mid-temperature aircraft grade with improved heat distortion characteristics for higher in-service temperatures 168-178°F (75-81°C). Meets FAR requirement 25.853(a).

•KYDEX 200 General purpose sheet with good impact resistance, excellent extensibility and solvent resistance. Cost competitive with many other thermoplastics.

•KYDEX 301 A proprietary Bi-layer thermoplastic sheet that is cost competitive with fire retardant ABS (FR-ABS) formulations but with superior properties ... it is less hygroscopic than FR-ABS ... eliminates drying.

•KYDEX 510 KYDEX sheet of any color with a clear, weatherable cap. Caps also available with black/white or rust/gray granite patterns.

•KYDEX 550 Weatherable, monolithic (no cap) sheet in limited light colors. Excellent impact resistance.

•KYDEX 6185 High-temperature aircraft grade with improved heat distortion characteristics for higher in-service temperatures 180-195°F (82-90.5°C). Meets FAR requirement 25.853(a).

•KYDEX 6200 High performance grade for mass transit vehicle interiors. Meets FTA and FRA fire requirements. Meets low smoke generation requirements.

•KYDEX 6565 High performance grade for aircraft interiors. Meets FAR fire requirements 25.853 (a) and (d).Meets low smoke and low RHR generation requirements.

•KYDEX L Damage-resistant laminating material. Ratings of Class I/A and UL 94 V-0 in gauges to .040 (1.02mm). Can also be thermoformed and membrane pressed.

•KYDEX T High impact, high performance, fire-rated sheet. Cost competitive with flame retardant ABS, but with great impact and extensibility.

•KYDEX V Recycled grade of Kydex "utility black" #52065 sheet. Excellent performance-to-cost ratio.

•KYDEX V100 Recycled black #52114 sheet. Rated UL 94 V-0. Excellent performance-to-cost ratio.

•KYDEX V102 Recycled beige #72401, gray #52346, or black #52114 Kydex sheet with cap in select colors. Rated UL 94 V-0 and 5V.

•KYDEX V103 A recycled grade of a proprietary thermoplastic sheet that is cost competitive with other grades of thermoplastic sheet while offering improved performance.

For more information visit Professional Plastics Kydex Web Page

Or call (888) 995-7767 for the nearest Professional Plastics location.

Plastic Materials for Chromotography, Mass Spec - GC, CG/MS

Professional Plastics offers a full-range of materials used in chromotography, mass spectrometry - GC, CG/MS.  These materials include Polyimide Vespel, Plavis, PEEK and Teflon used for Ferrules and Columns.

Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), or simply gas chromatography (GC), is a common type of chromatography used in organic chemistry for separating and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition. Typical uses of GC include testing the purity of a particular substance, or separating the different components of a mixture (the relative amounts of such components can also be determined). In some situations, GC may help in identifying a compound. In microscale chemistry, GC can be used to prepare pure compounds from a mixture.
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a method that combines the features of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify different substances within a test sample. Applications of GC-MS include drug detection, fire investigation, environmental analysis, explosives investigation, and identification of unknown samples. GC/MS can also be used in airport security to detect substances in luggage or on human beings. Additionally, it can identify trace elements in materials that were previously thought to have disintegrated beyond identification.

Manufacturers of GC and GC/MS Equipment include: Agilent, LECO Corporation, PerkinElmer, Shimadzu, Thermo Electron Corporation, Varian, Inc. and Alpha MOS - Perichrom.
 
For more details visit Professional Plastics webpage for Plastic Materials for Chromotography, Mass Spec - GC, CG/MS. 
 
Professional Plastics, Inc.
Phone (888) 995-7767
http://www.professionalplastics.com/
E-Mail: sales@proplas.com

Plexiglass Acrylic Sheets for Sale - Wholesale or Retail

Plexiglass / Extruded Acrylic Sheet (aka Plexiglass, Lucite, Acrylite, Optix, Plexi) is an excellent glazing, signage, window or display material that is unaffected by moisture, and offers a high strength-to-weight ratio. Acrylic (plexiglass) offers high light transmittance and can be easily heat-formed without loss of optical clarity.

- Plexiglass is 17 times stronger than glass, but 50% of the weight !!

Links:
Plexiglass Sheet Order Online - E-Commerce Page
Plexiglass Color Chart
Extruded Acrylic - Data Sheet
Plexiglass Machining Guidelines
Plexiglass Aquarium Tutorial
Plexiglass Extruded Tubes

Plexiglass Cast Acrylic Tubes
Plexiglass Cast Acrylic Rods
Buffing & Polishing Kit
 
For more information contact Professional Plastics, Inc at (888) 995-7767 or e-mail sales@proplas.com