Thermosets & Composites at NPE 2003

While there are only a handful of exhibitors at NPE involved in thermosets and composites, it looks like there may be significant news in one area of leading-edge technology: fuel cells. There were advance hints that GE Plastics and BMC Inc.would announce at the show a new conductive BMC material for fuel-cell plates based on GE’s brand-new PPO-based thermoset called Noryl ETX. BMCI will also introduce a new conductive adhesive and water-tight seal for assembling bipolar plates into fuel-cell stacks. It is said to provide better conductivity across the bond line than simply pressing the plates together without a bond. Meanwhile, Hull/Finmac will be discussing special compression presses for molding bipolar plates.

 

Laboratory presses

Hull won’t be the only compression-press builder at NPE—Fontijne Grotnes of the Netherlands and Labtech Engineering of Thailand will also be featuring their lab-scale equipment. Also EAS Mold & Die Change Systems will introduce a magnetic QMC system that can withstand the heat of thermoset molds and platens.

In other equipment, Maxi-Blast is bringing its latest deflashing system and Flow Robotic Systems will discuss automated cells for finishing SMC parts.

The fast-growing field of pultrusion will also have a presence at the show. Crown Pultrusion will discuss die manufacturing, and Scheer Bay Co. will unveil a cutter for thermoplastic pultrusions used to make long-fiber composites.

Besides BMCI, three other suppliers of thermoset materials will be at the show—IDI Composites International and two producers of silicone rubbers, Dow Corning and Wacker Silicones.