Belt Reinforcement Adhesion Treatment
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Belt Reinforcement Adhesion Treatment
HOUSTON, TX - May 23, 2007 - Inhance/Fluoro-Seal Ltd. has started surface modifying reinforcing fabric, yarns, and fibers used in the manufacture of reinforced belts and conveyors. The surface modification is performed to significantly improve adhesion between the reinforcement fibers/fabric and the rubber or polyurethane elastomer. In addition to providing superior performance, the surface modification facilitates elimination of use of environmentally-harmful, solvent-based adhesion promoters and primers. This development is timely since the use of some adhesion promoters has been banned in some parts of the world.
The first commercial application of this process consists of toll treatment of the reinforcement yarn used at all locations of an international manufacturer of V-belts and related products. The process has been demonstrated to be amenable to a broad variety of reinforced elastomer products, including large conveyor belts and automotive tires.
While the first commercial yarn is polyester, technical success has been demonstrated with all other families of high-strength, synthetic polymer fibers including polyolefin and aramid materials. According to Dr. Bernard D. Bauman, Executive Vice President, "This technology is so powerful that fibers that could not be used for reinforcement because of poor adhesion properties, such as Spectra® and Dyneema® fibers, can now be used. This technology holds promise to open new markets for these materials, including high-performance composite fabrication such as filament winding."
Inhance/Fluoro-Seal uses a proprietary reactive gas technology that rapidly alters the chemical structure of the surface of the reinforcing fibers. Bauman points out that "the process is totally environmentally benign and the treatment lasts indefinitely. This means that belt and conveyor manufacturers can inventory adhesion-treated yarn and fabric and use it when needed."
At this time, this treatment is being performed at the company's Houston Texas facility. If customer needs are sizable, the process can be done at customer locations under a variety of business models.
Inhance/Fluoro-Seal, headquartered in Houston, is a member of the Fluoro-Seal group of companies. Inhance/Fluoro-Seal manufactures a line of surface modified polymer particles and fibers, which it sells as performance additives under the INHANCE trade name. These products are used by makers of paints, coatings, adhesives, and various molded goods. Fluoro-Seal International is a leader in the field of reactive gas surface modification of plastics, treating plastic containers with fluorine gas to improve organic barrier properties since 1983.
Contact Information:
Bernard D. Bauman
Inhance/Fluoro-Seal Ltd.
Phone: 281-600-1255
bbauman@inhance.us
www.inhance.us
www.fluoroseal.com
Inhance is the registered trade name of Inhance/Fluoro-Seal Ltd
Spectra is the registered trade name of Honeywell International
Dyneema is the registered trade name of DSM Dyneema Corporation
