WEB EXCLUSIVE: Victrex Polymer Solutions, Conshohocken, Pa., has developed a series of enhanced Victrex PEEK compounds that incorporate high-modulus carbon fibers for a boost in strength and stiffness and weight-reduction potential.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Dexmet Corp., Wallingford, Conn., a manufacturer of precision expanded metals, foils, and polymers has added Aptiv film to its PolyGrid portfolio, which is made of Victrex PEEK from Victrex USA, West Conshohocken, Pa.

Two suppliers recently announced plans to increase capacity.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: An unfilled grade of Victrex 90 Series high-flow PEEK from Victrex USA was used to mold small medical pipette tips.

Last fall’s K 2010 fair in Germany drew dozens of materials suppliers to show off hundreds of new products, aimed especially at packaging,medical, automotive, and electrical/electronics.

The footprint of thermoplastic materials suppliers at this year’s NPE is going to be fainter than usual.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Parker Hannifin in Germany replaced steel components in its RSD quick coupling with a single injection molded part of Victrex PEEK engineering resin from Victrex plc (U.S. office in West Conshohocken, Pa.). RSD quick-connect couplings are used to connect hydraulic lines on a tractor to its trailer, plough, or other equipment without use of tools.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: PEEK resin can penetrate more demanding wear applications, thanks to a new product from Victrex Polymer Solutions, West Conshohocken, Pa.

Two new developments in high-performance polyketone resins offer a choice of lower cost or higher performance relative to existing PEEK materials.

Availability of three new forms of high-performance PEEK resins has been announced by two suppliers. •Two types of PEEK have achieved ISO 10993 biocompatibility compliance for use in limited-exposure medical devices and instruments.

WEB EXCLUSIVE A new T-Series compound from Victrex USA Inc., West Conshohocken, Pa., is a proprietary blend of PEEK, carbon fiber, and Celazole polybenzimidazole (PBI) from PBI Performance Products, Charlotte, N.C.

The last two months have seen several resin capacity announcements: BASF Corp., Engineering Plastics, Wyandotte, Mich., opened what it calls the world’s largest plant for nylon 6 in Freeport, Texas.

A line of fi lms based on Victrex PEEK resin have been launched by Victrex USA Inc., West Conshohocken, Pa.

In May, Victrex PLC in the U.K. (U.S. offi ce in West Conshohocken, Pa.), maker of Victrex PEEK high-performance thermoplastic, started up the world's fi rst dedicated, high-volume production line for PEEK fi lm.

Victrex USA, Inc., supplier of Victrex PEEK specialty engineering thermoplastics, has moved its U.S. headquarters from Greenville, S.C., to West Conshohocken, Pa.

The top of the thermoplastic performance pyramid is growing more crowded and more finely differentiated due to heightened demand for lighter, tougher alternatives to metals, ceramics, and thermosets.

Medical tubes are becoming ever smaller and thinner while adding new features like high-tech material combinations, more wire braiding/wrapping, and heat-shrink sheathing for strength and kink resistance.

The industry’s broadest line of highly heat- and chemical-resistant thermoplastics is being fortified with several new amorphous and crystalline materials in the so-called “ultra-performance” category.

A new series of glass-filled PEEK grades from Victrex USA Inc., Greenville, S.C., are FDA-compliant for food-processing and related industrial applications.

New Victrex T-Series products from Victrex USA Inc., Greenville, S.C., are blends of PEEK and polybenzimidazole (PBI) fibers for high-temperature applications requiring high strength, wear, hardness, and improved creep and heat resistance.

Victrex USA, Greenville, S.C., will build a second PEEK manufacturing plant at its U.K. site.

 Higher flow, higher heat, higher barrier, higher clarity, higher stiffness, lower durometer, lower smoke, lower odor—materials exhibits at the recent K 2004 show in Dusseldorf were stretching the bounds of processing and performance properties in all directions.

Quite a few new polyolefins are being featured at this year’s show, with a particular emphasis on specialty PP and PE materials.

A Swiss manufacturer of aerospace, automotive, and medical parts has developed a novel compression molding process that delivers net-shape thermoplastic composites with strength per unit weight reportedly competitive with those of machined steel, aluminum, and titanium.

The pace at which polyketone materials are replacing metals shows no sign of abating. Indeed, PEEK's potential in fuel cells, plus accelerated applications development in existing markets, suggest that supply tightness could persist through 2003, when more new PEEK capacity is expected to bring relief.