Resins offer continuous use temperatures up to 230°C.November 27, 2006 -
In addition to melt processability, Extem(TM) Thermoplastic Polyimide Resins provide optimal thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties while eliminating drawbacks of semi-crystalline materials and imidized thermosets. They are inherently flame-retardant without use of halogenated additives that can pose environmental risk. Resins feature glass transition temperatures up to 310°C, stiffness and creep resistance under load, and resistance to wide range of chemicals.
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Original Press release
GE Company GE Plastics
One Plastics Ave.
Pittsfield, MA, 01201
USA
GE Launches New Extem* Resin Line for Exceptional Thermal, Chemical, and Mechanical Performance in Extreme Environments
GE Launches New Extem* Resin Line for Exceptional Thermal, Chemical, and Mechanical Performance in Extreme Environments
GE's Invention of Totally New Ultra-High-Performance Family of Amorphous Polymers Answers the Need for Cost Effective Injection Moldable Resin with Exceptional Properties
PITTSFIELD, MASS. - November 14, 2006 - GE Plastics today announced the launch of Extem* thermoplastic polyimide (TPI) resins, a new family of amorphous polymers that provide exceptional performance, while eliminating the drawbacks of semi-crystalline materials, imidized thermosets, and competitive amorphous thermoplastics. GE's Extem resins deliver a powerful combination of melt processability and ultra-high thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties. They meet growing industry demand for easy-to-produce parts that can withstand ever-higher temperatures and harsh chemical environments, and remain stiff and dimensionally stable in extreme temperatures. In addition, GE's Extem resins are inherently flame-retardant without the use of halogenated additives that can pose an environmental risk.
"GE's new Extem resin line represents a huge leap in cost-performance designed to help our customers grow their businesses," said Brian Herington, general manager, High Performance Polymers, GE Plastics. "Until now, customers needing an ultra-high-performance plastic were forced to choose between expensive imidized thermosets with high processing costs or high-performance semi-crystalline resins. New Extem resins help solve these challenges through top-of-the-line extreme performance, cost-effective processing, and the elimination of such secondary operations as post-molding curing or crystallization. We've radically changed the game with a new, much needed polymer technology that we think will go a long way to help our customers compete, grow, and succeed."
Herington added that GE Plastics expects today's introduction of GE's new, world-class Extem resin to open up new application-development opportunities in such industries as semiconductor wafer handling, defense, oil & gas processing, aerospace, high-performance fibers, electronics, and automotive.
Extem resins provide the following properties:
- Continuous use temperatures up to 230 C.
- Glass transition temperatures up to 310 C.
- High stiffness and creep resistance under load, typical of high strength amorphous polymers.
- Excellent resistance to a wide range of chemicals, including added resistance to chlorinated solvents over existing melt processable polyimides available today.
- Inherent flame retardance without the use of halogens.
- Melt processable on traditional extrusion and molding equipment.
- Ultra high mechanical properties as molded, no post-curing or thermosetting needed.
Compared with existing materials, GE's Extem resins provide a comprehensive array of outstanding high-performance properties. Unlike high-end semi-crystalline polymers that exhibit poor creep resistance and dimensional stability under load at elevated temperatures, Extem resins deliver excellent creep resistance and stiffness under these conditions. Further, semi-crystalline materials are always opaque, whereas GE's unfilled Extem resin grades are inherently transparent for greater design versatility.
While providing excellent performance, imidized materials such as polyamide-imide (PAI) and other TPIs are costly and must be machined from fully imidized stock shapes or melt processed. They must then be cured for up to two weeks to eliminate brittleness and to enhance physical properties. GE's Extem resins offer true thermoplastic melt processability with ultra-high performance as molded to provide more cost effective, ultra-high-performance, and eliminate the need for post-curing, thereby offering processing productivity to customers.
To learn more about GE's Extem resin family please visit GE Plastics' website at geplastics.com/gep/Plastics/en/ProductsAndServices/ProductLine/extem.html, or click here.
About GE Plastics
GE Plastics (geplastics.com) 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.
* Extem, LNP, and Lexan are trademarks of General Electric Company.
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