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
A lot of effort goes into creating any kind of medical device, and the approval process is often long. Naturally, a significant part of a manufacturer’s focus is on making sure the device works and complies with safety standards. However, comfort should also be at the top of your list of concerns when designing devices … Read more Manufacturing Home Medical Devices with Comfort in Mind
Manufacturers often run into situations where they are dealing with extraordinarily high temperatures. Depending on the specific attributes of the situation, these temperatures can have a dramatic effect on the performance, safety, and longevity of a piece of equipment. Materials can quickly break down when exposed to high temperature or prolonged heat exposure. Choosing the … Read more Choosing the Right High Temperature Product Based on Application