Materials

Extensive materials experience includes:

• Thermoplastic polymers
• Hydrocarbon polymers
• Polyethylene (PE)
• HDPE
• LDPE
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Atactic
• Isotactic
• Polybutadiene
• Syndiotatctic
• Isotactic
• Polystyrene (PS)
• Atactic
• Isotactic
• Nonhydrocarbon carbon-chain polymers
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Polyvinyl fluoride PVF)
• Polytetrafuoroethylene (PTFE)
• Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)
• Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
• Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
• Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
• Heterochain thermoplastics
• Polyethylene oxide (PEO)
• Polyoxymethylene (acetal) POM
• Polyamide (PA)
• Nylon 6
• Nylon 6/6
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)
• Polycarbonate (PC)
• High temperature thermoplastics
• Polyether ether ketone (PEEK)
• Polyphenylene sulphide (PPS)
• Polyamide-imide (PAI)
• Polyether suphone (PES)
• Polyether-imide (PEI)
• Polysulphone (PSU)
• Polyimide (thermoplastic) (PI)
• Thermoset polymers
• Phenolics
• Filled
• Epoxies
• Unreinforced
• Filled
• Aminos
• Urea-formaldehyde (UF)
• Melamine-formaldehyde (melamine) (MF)
• Polyurethane (PUR)
• Unfilled
• Filled
• Polyesters
• Vinyl esters
• Polyimdes
• Silicones
• Urethanes
• Elastomers/rubbers
• Natural rubber
• Styrene-butadiene rubber
• Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber
• Butyl rubber
• Polychloroprene
• Polyisoprene
• Polysulphide polymer
• Silicone
• Polyurethane
• Polymer blends
• Thermoplastic/thermoplastic
• Thermoset/thermoplastic
• Composites
• Short fibre thermoplastics
• Glass fibre
• Cellulose fibre
• Carbon fibre
• Continuous fibre thermoplastics
• Glass fibre
• Carbon fibre
• Short fibre thermosets
• Glass fibre
• Cellulose fibre
• Carbon fibre
• Aramid fibre
• Ceramic fibres and whiskers
• Continuous fibre thermosets
• Glass fibre
• Cellulose fibre
• Carbon fibre
• Aramid fibre
• Honeycomb materials
• Ceramics matrix composites
• Highly filled polymers
• Friction materials
• Bearings
• Gaskets
• Fillers
• Inorganic
• Organic
• Reinforcing
• Plasticisers
• Lubricants
• Impact modifiers
• Stabilizers
• Low cost fillers
• Flame retardants
• Fibres
• Glass fibre
• Cellulose fibre
• Carbon fibre
• Aramid fibre
• Ceramic fibres and whiskers

Processes

Comprehensive process knowledge includes:

• Compression moulding
• Laminating
• Injection moulding
• Blow moulding
• Extrusion
• Pultrusion

Applications

Application experience includes:

• Automotive
• brakes
• clutches
• body panels
• motorsport
• Industrial
• bearings
• cable
• Aerospace
• structures
• fittings
• Railway
• brakes
• Domestic products
• electrical
• Sports and leisure
• tennis rackets
• golf clubs
• bicycle wheels and frames
• fishing line
• skate boards
• Packaging
• Medical
• orthodontics
• prosthetics

Failure Mechanisms

Typical studies include:

• Additive dispersion and migration
• Polymer structure
• Blends and single phase
• Polymer identification
• Impurity identification
• Filler identification
• Mechanical failure investigation
• Fibre/polymer bonding
• Polymer wear and transfer films