|
Performance Plastics Ltd has joined forces with US Company Cool Polymers® Inc. The Rhode Island-based company who specialise in Thermally Conductive plastic materials, sold under the CoolPoly® brand name to represent their interests in the UK.
CoolPoly® materials are unique Thermally Conductive plastics which can offer thermal conductivity similar to metals. Available in electrically conductive and electrically insulating grades they offer designers a plastic alternative for components traditionally made in metals or ceramics.
Thermal conductivities between 1 to 100 W/m-K (100 times greater than normal thermoplastics) are available which means they fall in the same range as metals such as stainless steel, with a conductivity of 15W/m-K, and some aluminium alloys which range from 50-100W/m-K.
This high level of thermal conductivity means the plastic material allows heat to pass through it with ease and dissipates the heat much more evenly throughout a component, preventing the build up of problematic hot spots.
CoolPoly® materials are based on a range of commodity and engineering thermoplastics polymers, such as PP, ABS, PC, PA, LCP, PPS, PEEK and TPE's. Supplied in pellet form this enables them to be processed in a similar manner to unfilled materials, either by injection moulding or extrusion, without the need for special equipment. Thermally conductive plastics can reduce cycle time by up to 50%, and their inherently low coefficient of thermal expansion lowers shrink rates which allows dimensionally critical parts to be produced.
The materials come in two ranges - the E series which are Electrically Conductive, and the D series which are electrically insulating. Both exhibit high levels of thermal conductivity.
The E series has a range of electrical conductivity, measured as electrical resistivity between 0.1 and 10,000 ohm-cm, which is also appropriate for EMI and RFI shielding. The D series is electrically insulating whilst being thermally conductive. A unique combination for a melt processable material.
The excellent thermal conductivity of CoolPoly®, aligned to its' ease of processing, allows injection mouldable materials to be specified for applications traditionally made in metals or ceramics. The much greater design freedom associated with plastics, gives the designer an opportunity to manufacture parts with much more complex geometries, and to integrate multiple components into a single part, which is much lighter than their aluminium counterparts, and can offer electrical insulation if required without the loss of thermal conductivity.
CoolPoly® materials are already being used in many areas where the build up of heat could is problematic, or would reduce the efficiency of a component, or where distortion caused by a hot spot is detrimental to the function of a part.
Typical applications include functional heat sinks, heat exchangers, electrical bobbins, housings/reflectors for lighting (e.g. LED's,) temperature sensors, connectors, enclosures for motors etc.
Infrared Thermograph of a 75mm square plate with a 5 watt heat source at the centre. Not only does the CoolPoly® material allow heat to pass through it, it distributes the heat more evenly, preventing the build up of a hot spot close to the heat source.
For more information please visit the Cool Polymers website.
|
Acrypet Acrylic
Aquapurge
Certificate of Registration