Celanese and Southwire Develop Utility Transmission Conductor with Multi-Stranded Composite Core of Celstran® CFR-TPR
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Delivers Greater Reliability, Capacity and Performance
DALLAS, FRANKFURT, SHANGHAI – Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, and Southwire Company LLC, North America's largest wire and cable producers, today introduced an affordable option for utility transmission lines — the new C7™ Overhead Conductor with a multi-stranded composite core of Celstran® continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic rods (CFR-TPR) from Celanese.
"Designed for utilities that want greater flexibility, reliability and ease of installation, the C7 Overhead Conductor uses Celstran CFR-TPR composite technology that involves an innovative combination of carbon-fiber and a heat-resistant Fortron® PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) matrix that is capped with a layer of high-performance PEEK (polyether ether ketone)," said Michael Ruby, global composites business manager – Celanese. "This combination of materials provides distinct advantages compared to alternative High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) technology and conventional conductors."
The Celanese and Southwire developed transmission conductor delivers nearly double the capacity and exhibits less sag than the same diameter aluminum conductor steel-reinforced (ACSR) conductor. The design allows for minimum sag at higher power transfer, and the stranded Celstran CFR-TPR core means there is no single point of failure for the overhead conductor.
"Southwire has a 60-year history of quality and innovation when it comes to supplying utilities with transmission solutions," said Mark Lancaster, director of overhead transmission engineering at Southwire. "Our goal in creating the Southwire C7 Overhead Conductor was to give customers an alternative to our standard ACSR and HS285 transmission line solutions that offered flexibility, reliability and ruggedness to stand up to a variety of difficult environments."
Thanks to innovative and patented Celanese material technology, backed by advanced and proprietary processing, the C7 Overhead Conductor with Celstran CFR-TPR provides seven key advantages:
• Minimal Thermal Expansion — Lowest level available in a composite core for minimal sag increase at high power transfer
• Lightweight — High strength-to-weight ratio
• Multi-Element Core — No single point of failure, unlike monolithic constructs
• Flexible and Robust — Installs like traditional conductor without the need for special training and equipment
• Celanese Engineered Material — The only all-thermoplastic composite core in the world, backed by 50-plus years of material innovation and know-how, with high-temperature performance (180Â to 225 degrees Celsius)
• Multiple Conductor Designs — Tailor for installation requirements, from light to heavy ice loads, normal to long spans, and numerous conductor constructions
• Use of Conventional Connectors — Traditional, crew friendly, two-piece compression fittings
The Southwire C7 Overhead Conductor, with high-performance carbon-fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites for a service life expectancy in excess of 40 years in demanding applications, delivers superior thermal performance that cuts costs and improves performance both for new line or reconductoring installations.
"Celanese is excited to work closely with Southwire in this technology breakthrough for electricity transmission," said Phil McDivitt, vice president and general manager of the engineered materials business of Celanese. "This development reflects the combined strengths of Celanese thermoplastic composites with the Southwire focus on bringing step-change technology to the power industry."
Celstran CFR-TPR and Celstran CFR-TP (continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic tapes) are produced using a patented pultrusion process that provides the highest quality impregnation and optimal wetting of the reinforcement fibers. By using various matrix materials (PPS, PEEK, PVDF, PBT/PET, PP, HDPE, PAA/PPA, POM, TPU and others) and imbedding various glass-, carbon- and aramid-fibers together with additives, Celstran CFR-TPR and CFR-TP composites can be tailored to meet many specific application requirements.
About Celanese
Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. With sales almost equally divided between North America, Europe and Asia, the company uses the full breadth of its global chemistry, technology and business expertise to create value for customers and the corporation. Celanese partners with customers to solve their most critical needs while making a positive impact on its communities and the world. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had 2013 net sales of $6.5 billion. For more information about Celanese Corporation and its product offerings, visit www.celanese.com or our blog at www.celaneseblog.com.
All registered trademarks are owned by Celanese International Corporation or its affiliates.
Fortron is a registered trademark of Fortron Industries LLC.
Celanese Business Contacts:
Engineered Materials:
Media Relations Americas
Stephen Cushard
+1-859-372-3164
Stephen.Cushard@celanese.com
Media Relations Europe (Germany)
Henning Küll
+49-69-45009-1797
Henning.Kuell@celanese.com
Media Relations Asia (Shanghai)
Amber Zhao
+86-21-3861-9222
Tong.Zhao@celanese.com
About Southwire Company LLC
A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company LLC is one of North America's largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, metal-clad (MC) cable, FlatWire Ready® products, cord products (including Tappan™ sound, security, and communication cables through Tappan Wire & Cable Inc.), utility cable products, industrial power cable, OEM wire products, SCR® copper and aluminum rod, and continuous casting technology. Southwire also supplies MAXIS® wire and cable installation tools to the commercial, industrial and utility construction markets. To learn more about Southwire's products, community involvement, and its vision for a sustainable Southwire, please visit Southwire on the web at www.southwire.com.
C7 is a trademark of Southwire Company LLC.
Multi-Stranded Composite Core — Developed by Celanese Corporation and Southwire Company LLC, the C7TM Overhead Conductor uses a multi-stranded composite core of Celstran® continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic rods (CFR-TPR) to achieve greater flexibility, reliability and ruggedness.
Celanese Corporation
222 West Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 900N
Irving, Texas 75039
