Germany's Aventics Uses Solvay's Kalix® High-Performance Polyamide for New Pneumatic Valve System
Kalix® 9000 HPPA Delivers Unique Combination of Strength, High Flow,and Exceptional Surface Finish for Aventics AV Pneumatic Valve System
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany – Germany’s Aventics, a leading manufacturer of pneumatic components and systems which was created out of the former pneumatics business unit at Bosch Rexroth, uses Kalix® 9000 high-performance polyamide (HPPA) resin from Solvay Specialty Polymers for production of one key component of its new AV pneumatic valve systems. The semi-aromatic HPPA delivers a strong combination of high mechanical performance, superior flow, and exceptional surface finish as a replacement for metal and competitive engineering polymers for valve systems for the food, beverage, automotive, electronic, and industrial machine market. The announcement was made at the FAKUMA international trade fair for plastics processing Oct. 14-18 in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
Kalix® 9000 resin facilitates the miniaturization of a highly modular construction with a reduction of part volume up to 45%, and a compact design with optimally positioned push-in fittings. The high-performance polymer permits parts consolidation and significant weight reduction, making the AV pneumatic valve system up to 50% lighter than conventional systems on the market. This thermoplastic part for the AV system weighs less than 20 grams and is about 100 mm (3.94 in) long. The absence of flash allows the part to be more intricate while increasing its production consistency.
Despite its lighter, thinner, and more-compact design, the part made of Kalix® 9000 resin withstands pressure up to 10 bar at temperatures ranging from -10°C (14°F) to 60°C (140°F). Those demanding requirements led to Solvay’s development of a 60% glass-filled Kalix® 9000 grade which exhibits high flow and is colored in RAL 7035. It is also laser markable and UL94 certified.
Aventics worked closely with Solvay Specialty Polymers throughout the product development cycle. The two companies collaborated on material selection, rheological simulation, and mechanical simulation (Quasi static, Digimat). The cooperation also included extensive work on mold design, injection molding, and mechanical validation on the test bench (short- and long-term).
The use of Kalix® 9000 in this application reinforces Solvay’s leadership position in the high-end pneumatic valve market which is already served by the company’s Ixef® polyarylamide (PARA) compounds.
About Aventics
Aventics, headquartered in Laatzen, Germany, and with main engineering offices located in Bonneville, France, is a new standalone company that was created out of the former pneumatics business unit at Bosch Rexroth. The new name combines the terms of advantage, invention, and pneumatics, and describes the goal of providing customers with innovative products, system solutions, and services. The manufacturer of pneumatic components and systems intends to further expand its market position to new industries including heavy industry and medical technology. The company is focused on proven products and a clear focus on customer needs, along with global presence and individual customer solutions. Aventics has 2,100 employees and is positioned to tackle many new development opportunities around the globe. For more information, visit www.aventics.com.
About Solvay Specialty Polymers Solvay
Specialty Polymers manufactures over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers - fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds - for use in Aerospace, Alternative Energy, Automotive, Healthcare, Membranes, Oil and Gas, Packaging, Plumbing, Semiconductors, Wire and Cable, and other industries. Learn more at www.solvay.com.
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Solvay (www.solvay.com) is an international chemical Group committed to sustainable development with a clear focus on innovation and operational excellence. It is realizing over 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top 3 global leaders. Solvay offers a broad range of products that contribute to improving quality of life and the performance of its customers in markets such as consumer goods, construction, automotive, energy, water and environment, and electronics. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and its companies, which employ about 31,000 people in 55 countries, generated EUR 12.7 billion in net sales in 2011 (pro forma). Solvay SA is listed as SOLB on NYSE Euronext (www.euronext.com) in Brussels and Paris. Bloomberg (www.bloomberg.com) =SOLB:BB Reuters (www.reuters.com) = SOLB.BR
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