Cellular polymer materials are permeable to some degree, while other manufacturing materials like metals, glass, ceramics and dense loaded vinyls are not. To some, this porous quality may seem like a disadvantage. But that’s not true! Whether or not a material is right for your project comes down to your application. If you’re looking to … Read more How the Permeability of Polyurethane Foam Affects Sound Absorption
When developing a new product, there are a lot of hurdles to consider before bringing it to market. Before production starts, you should familiarize yourself with intellectual property (IP) protections in the U.S. and abroad. Many businesses in the United States turn to locations overseas, like China, to produce goods, as it is usually more … Read more Top 4 Ways to Protect Your Product Designs Against Copycats
When it comes to determining how well an aircraft will perform, the thrust-to-weight ratio is one of the most important metrics. Aerospace manufacturers have always aimed to keep this ratio as low as possible by creating lighter aircraft, but the metals traditionally used in aircraft bodies are heavy. Composite materials, on the other hand, are … Read more The Future of Composites in the Aerospace Industry
Porous plastic foam is on the cutting edge of insulation for heat, vapor, noise, and other elements. The two major variants of porous plastic foams are open and closed cell foams. Both types of foam are used in everyday products, but because of their structural differences, one type of foam may perform better than the … Read more Open vs. Closed Cell Foam: Understanding Permeability
Melamine foam is an effective absorber suitable for applications involving noise control and thermal management. Polymer Technologies provides a range of melamine foam insulation for a variety of industries, mainly power generation, construction, rail transportation, heavy truck, aerospace, medical, and marine manufacturing. The foam is widely used because it is a versatile, flame resistant material … Read more Melamine Foam Insulation for Thermal Management, Noise Reduction, and Cost Savings
Engineers are always looking for more ways to implement new technologies in their machinery. Over the past decade, the drive to create more versatile machinery has only continued to increase. With the amount of power and technology being put into these machines, the need for greater insulation and noise reduction solutions has become apparent. When … Read more Keeping Up with the Demanding Trend of Machine Versatility
When engineers are developing products that require a polymer solution—albeit rubber, insulation, or other material—deciding exactly which materials to use and finding a supplier is an integral part of the product development process. Performance of those materials is not the only concern, either: chances are you’re working within budget and time constraints and need to … Read more 7 Questions a Polymer Supplier Can Answer During Product Development
Damping is one of the most effective methods of controlling noise and vibration. It is a process that converts vibrational energy into heat, eliminating the vibrational energy through friction and other processes. Increasing damping or stiffness can both reduce resonant vibration and the resulting noise by preventing the vibration from travelling through the structure. Rubber … Read more Damping Techniques for Noise and Vibration Control
What is overmolding? Overmolding is the process of using a foam application to mold over a tube, pipe, or piece of metal. The process has the capability to change the aesthetics and performance of a piece of equipment. While its primary application is to provide a clean, textured finish to an application, overmolding can also … Read more Addressing Different Application Concerns with Overmolding
What is RoHS Compliance? RoHS, which stands for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, is a European Union directive restricting the use of specific hazardous substances in certain electronic and electrical equipment. These substances are considered hazardous to the environment and are particularly dangerous in terms of occupational exposure during the manufacture and recycling stages … Read more Understanding RoHS and Who is Responsible for Compliance