GE Highlights Technical Textiles and Nonwoven Applications for its High-Performance Plastics at Techtextil North America
ATLANTA - Mar. 28, 2006 - In booth #610 at Techtextil North America 2006, GE Plastics is showcasing several commercial textiles and nonwoven applications that are made with its high-tech Ultem* polyetherimide (PEI) and Valox* polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resins. Exhibiting for the first time at Techtextil, GE aims to educate the textiles industry about these versatile resins and other high-performance materials that have wide applicability in the filtration, transportation, medical, apparel, and home furnishing textiles markets.
"GE has made a significant commitment to finding new materials solutions that meet the evolving challenges of the textiles industry," said John Kaminsky, market director, New Markets at GE Plastics. "We believe our plastics and compounds give converters and manufacturers the tools they need to move beyond traditional approaches and gain a true competitive edge. At our exhibit, we are offering some real-world examples of how GE's advanced materials technologies drive design innovation, support regulatory compliance, and deliver next-generation performance."
GE's Ultem PEI Resins for Flame Retardant and Heat-Resistant Applications
Applications for GE's Ultem resin on display at the GE booth include:
Hot Gas Filter: Among the applications featuring Ultem resin is a hot gas filter incorporating a nonwoven fiber made from the GE material. Used in coal-fired and other filtration systems to remove particulates that could negatively impact air quality, these filters must withstand high heat over extended periods. GE's Ultem resin offers exceptional resistance to high temperatures of 200 C and above, as well as outstanding chemical stability. With higher performance than traditional materials, filters incorporating Ultem resin may not require secondary coatings and finishes that can add cost.
Aircraft Kick Panel: Another application being featured at the GE booth is an aircraft interior kick panel under development by Lantal Textiles that specifies fabric incorporating fibers made from Ultem resin. Not only does the GE resin provide inherent flame retardance without the use of brominated additives to meet regulatory requirements, but it also provides excellent UV resistance. Tests have shown that fiber made from Ultem resin resists UV degradation much more effectively than competitive materials.
Flame-retardant Mattress Barrier: One of the early commercial successes of fibers made from GE's Ultem PEI resin is a flame-retardant barrier for Restonic Ergo Sleep® mattresses that enables the mattress manufacturer to comply with California's TB 603 open flame safety requirement. This one-inch nonwoven barrier also provides high loft and added comfort to the mattress.
Aircraft Fire Blocking Fabric: Also on display at the GE booth is a sample of fire blocking fabric for aircraft seating under development by Tex Tech Industries. The fabric is constructed of fibers converted from GE's Ultem resin. Ultem provides inherent flame retardance properties without the use of brominated additives to meet regulatory requirements. Also, Ultem resin offers low smoke density and low toxicity, a key factor in survivability during aircraft fire related incidents. Today, Ultem resin is used in a wide range of interior aircraft applications.
GE Valox PBT Resins for Hydrostability, Flexibility, and Temperature Resistance
Applications for GE's Valox resin being shown at the GE booth include:
Shirts with Better Stretch: To provide a comfortable, stretchy fit without a rubbery or synthetic feel, GE's Valox PBT resin is being used in fabric for shirts made from Polyenka PK FLEX® yarn. The GE resin withstands degradation from chemicals such as chlorine, and is stable in humid environments. Fibers made from this versatile resin can be blended with other fibers, and filaments of Valox resin can be incorporated in yarns. The GE display will include fabric samples that illustrate the various uses of Valox PBT resins.
Meltblown Filtration Media: Valox PBT resins are excellent candidates for the meltblown process in which resin is converted to nonwoven filter media that can be used in air and liquid filtration systems for gasoline, chemicals, and food and beverages, among others. The high heat and chemical resistance and wide range of viscosities offered by Valox grades are critical in these applications.
About GE Plastics
GE Plastics is a global supplier of plastic resins widely used in automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, performance packaging, building & construction, telecommunications, and optical media applications. The company manufactures and compounds polycarbonate, ABS, SAN, ASA, PPE, PC/ABS, PBT and PEI resins, as well as the LNP* line of high-performance specialty compounds. GE Plastics, Specialty Film & Sheet manufactures high-performance Lexan* sheet and film products used in thousands of demanding applications worldwide. In addition, GE Plastics' dedicated Automotive organization is an experienced, world-wide competitor, offering leading plastics solutions for five key automotive segments: body panels and glazing; under the hood applications; component; structures and interiors; and lighting. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games.
* Ultem, Valox, LNP, and Lexan are trademarks of General Electric Company.
Contacts
The Americas
Christopher Tessier
GE Plastics, Pittsfield, Mass.
Tel: +1-413-448-6926
E-Mail: christopher.tessier@ge.com
Europe
Helen Vandebovenkamp
GE Plastics, Bergen op Zoom,
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 164 29 2097
E-Mail: helen.vandebovenkamp.@ge.com
Asia
Cecilia Siu
GE Plastics, Shanghai, China
Tel: +86 21 3222 4500 Ext. 216
E-Mail: cecilia.siu@ge.com
Agency Contacts
The Americas
Jim Allison
AH&M Marketing Communications,
Pittsfield, Mass.
Tel: +1-413-448-2260, Ext. 25
E-Mail: jallison@ahminc.com
Europe
Folke Markus
Marketing Solutions, Bergen op Zoom,
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 164 317 038
E-Mail: fmarkus@marketingsolutions.be
China
William Li
Ketchum Newscan, Shanghai, China
Tel: +86 21 5289 5838 Ext. 105
E-Mail: william.li@knprsh.com
Japan
Mitsu Sugino
Tokyo PR Inc., Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3-3273-2731
E-Mail: sugino@tokyopr.co.jp
