Home / Blogs / Page 6

Designs and Innovations in Porous Materials

PTFE is a very diverse and versatile material being used in a variety of applications including electronic, medical, industrial and many others. PTFE is inert, and what this means is that it is unreactive to most chemicals and extremely heat resistant with temperature limits of 500° F.

Porex porous PTFE materials not only offer excellent thermal, electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties, they also offer superior control over pore size, permeability, water entry pressure, and thickness. These properties make this PTFE an ideal choice for a wide variety of demanding applications requiring a combination of these properties. The primary function of these materials is to provide protection to sealed products from dust and moisture while allowing the enclosure to vent or to allow gas movement while protecting the device.

Engineers have used Porex PTFE membranes to create a wide variety of products, from battery and fuel cell components to key fob vents. If your business has a need for innovations using porous materials, it would be beneficial to talk to an engineer about Porex PTFE membranes for your application.

Other applications for these materials include:

  • Sensors
  • Automotive Electronics
  • Portable Electronics
  • Medical Equipment
  • Acoustics
  • Lighting
  • Energy Generation & Storage
  • And many more!

Custom Converted Porex PTFE

Porex PTFE materials can be converted in a variety of ways to best suit your specific application. At SRP, we commonly convert these materials using our specialized die cutting equipment. Depending on the application, we can fabricate PTFE in a number of different ways by either die cutting raw material, adding an adhesive backing to parts, supplying parts on a low tack release liner for quick and easy handling, or adding a zoned elastomer to make a custom Porex gasket.

These innovative products can solve many business challenges, as they are durable, long lasting, and designed for applications that require a long life. Contact our engineering and sales teams today to learn more about how Porex PTFE can add innovation and performance to your next project.

Silicone Rubber Advances

Silicone rubber is one of the most versatile materials on the planet. It was first introduced in the 1940’s and has been developed over time to be particularly heat and cold resistant. In addition, silicone rubber is chemical resistant, making it suitable for many applications where it is important that it not be permeated by chemicals.

Today, there are a wide variety of rubber silicone products, including BISCO® silicone foams, as well as silicone rubber both available in rolls. The wide range of choices in silicone rubber allows it to be used in many different industrial applications.

Benefits of BISCO® Rubber Products

BISCO®, one of the most sought after rubber silicone products is extremely versatile. It can be used to make gaskets, heat shields, fire stops, seals, cushions, and insulation. BISCO® is flame retardant and heat resistant, as well as being ozone resistant. It is easily cut into a wide variety of shapes and sizes and is perfect for die cut applications.

If you haven’t tried using BISCO® for your silicone rubber requirements, it may offer a good alternative to the silicone you currently use. Because of its versatility and superior durability, it is widely used in the following industries:

  • Food Processing
  • Manufacturing
  • Medical Devices
  • Microelectronics
  • Transportation
  • HVAC
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Defense
  • Energy

BISCO® is lightweight and extremely easy to fabricate and die-cut. All silicone products can be provided with adhesive lamination for easy application.

See if BISCO® or other silicone rubber products make sense for your business. Call SRP today at (800) 333-6322 to learn more about our wide range of silicone products.

Reasons for Thermal Gasket Failure

The engineers and development team at SRP are often called in to work with companies struggling with the failure of their current thermal gasket designs.

As with any type of gasket, failure to correctly provide sealing, shock resistance, vibration control and even insulating can result in complete system failure over time. Of course, this can happen at a very slow rate, creating a challenge to pinpoint the specific cause of the leak or enhanced wear and tear on the component, engine or system.

When a thermal gasket fails, there can be significant damage to the rest of the system. As these gaskets are designed to stand up to high heat operating conditions, they are often overlooked as the source of the issue unless they completely breakdown or create a visible leak that can be detected.

Here are some common issues that can cause thermal gasket failure. These will vary based on the specific use of the gasket and also the material that the gasket is made from.

Overheating

While a thermal material is designed to withstand high heat, each has its own range of suitable temperatures for optimal functioning. Exceeding these temperatures, even for short periods of time, will result in early degradation of the gasket material, leading to increased risk of cracking and leaking.

Choosing the right type of gasket material that will be able to withstand not just the typical temperatures but the temperature extremes will be critical in preventing failure.

Pressure

Pressure creates additional stress on the gasket material, particularly when combined with elevated temperatures. Some of the gasket options are designed specifically for their elasticity, allowing them to stretch and contract with changes in pressure on one or both sides of the gasket.

Without this ability, there will be high levels of deformation of the gasket material during operation, another critical cause of failure when operating conditions are not carefully evaluated.

Our team will work with you to determine the characteristics necessary for the specific operating conditions. This will help to extend the life of the product and eliminate gasket failure issues.

Foam Expo Wrap-Up

This week, SRP exhibited at the first annual Foam Expo over in Novi, Michigan. Now, I know what you are thinking. How could there possibly be a show solely dedicated to foam?

For those of you who don’t know, the foam industry is filled with incredible products from a wide variety of industries that is chalked full of ingenuity and imagination. From raw foam materials to home insulation, automotive seats and steering wheels, footwear, pillows, bedding, and way beyond.

The foam expo was not only a chance for us to catch up with material suppliers and competitors, but also a chance for us to learn more about the foam industry as a whole. Believe me when I say this, it was much more than we expected, and we can’t wait to exhibit at the expo again next year.

Thank you to all who came to visit booth #323 if you attended the show. We are here to service you in any way we can. Our sales team and engineers are ready to assist you with any new or existing project you may have.

Feel free to call us at 847.593.5630, or email us at info@srpco.com

Tips For Custom Designing A Silicone Rubber Gasket

From prototype development to large volume manufacturing, having the right service provider on your side will be a critical factor for your business.

At Standard Rubber Products Co. (SRP), we have the experience, expertise and the state of the art systems and equipment to assist in prototype development and manufacturing of any and all silicone rubber gasket components you may require. We also provide a full line of other gasket materials, shielding and insulating options as well as weather-stripping.

There are several important factors to consider when designing and developing a customized or prototype silicone rubber gasket. Our team is here to assist in all phases and steps, ensuring the gasket material, design and engineering will achieve the specific requirements given the operating environment.

Understanding the Demands on the Gasket

Under most operational conditions, silicone rubber is an excellent option for a cost-effective and very durable gasket material. This is a high-performance elastomer that is highly resistant to damage or changes in performance due to extreme temperatures.

They can function effectively in temperatures as low as -67 to over 400 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 450 degrees. It is also resistant to moisture, ozone, fungal growth and many chemicals.

Production Options

We provide the right production method for any given specifics, shape and type of silicone rubber gasket required. We offer flash cutting, laser cutting, waterjet cutting, and rotary die-cutting services.

With precision services, most often die cutting, we can provide high volume production of gaskets with extremely tight tolerances. We have built-in quality control that delivers beyond the expectations of our customers with each order.

Let our engineers talk to your team about your silicone rubber custom gasket design. We can provide the information you need to choose the best and lowest cost production method possible and to enhance your gasket design for optimal durability and lifecycle considerations.

SRP Announces Participation at Foam Expo Trade Show

SRP is pleased to announce the business will be attending the Foam Expo Trade Show in Novi, Michigan, from February 28 to March 2, 2017 at the Suburban Collection Showplace. We will exhibit to showcase our innovative, high-quality products and services in the custom fabrication and die cutting industry.

At exhibit booth #323, we will focus on presenting our services, latest product applications and equipment across several key markets, which include automotive, electronics, construction, industrial, medical and sports.

The trade show enables our company to highlight how we can be of assistance to various markets. SRP will concentrate on the capabilities to fabricate intricate parts out of products like 3M™ Automotive Tapes and Adhesives, 3M™ VHB™ Tapes, various foam materials including Rogers PORON foams and BISCO silicones, and applications where thick foam products are required. Of course, we will be showcasing many other materials we can convert as well.

The Foam Expo Trade Show serves the whole foam manufacturing industry and all associated services, products and processes, including chemicals, raw materials, manufacturing and processing equipment and much more. By attending the show, SRP strives to provide attendees with all the information needed to produce a more efficient and overall better product. SRP also looks forward to reconnecting with clients.

For more information about the Expo, click here to visit the show website.

Material Highlight: Rubberlite I-Series

I-Series is a microcellular polyether-based polyurethane foam technology with wide range of density and firmness options from a single chemistry and formulary.

  • Outstanding high temperature compression set performance
  • Highly advantaged compression fatigue performance
  • Initial product offerings range in density from 7 – 20 lbs./Ft.3

Advantages

Demonstrates exceptional high temperature compression set performance while maintaining excellent tensile, tear, and elongation properties.

  • Competitive alternative for mechanically frothed foams.
  • Allows for down gauging in many applications
  • Enables the use of lower density products to achieve performance targets for many applications.

Demonstrates exceptional Cyclic Compression Fatigue performance for applications such as insoles.

  • Lab tests indicate a substantial improvement over mechanically frothed foams.

Provides a cost effective alternative to mechanically frothed foams.

  • Free-rise production with skiving to engineered thicknesses.

Versatile and diverse products for broad range of applications:

  • Available in a wide range of densities and compression deflections.
  • Available with highly effective antimicrobial additive.
  • Meets flammability requirements of FMVSS 302.

Property Sheets

Rubberlite Polyurethane Foams are a highly convertible material, making it easy for us to custom fabricate. This material can be custom cut into virtually any shape imaginable. Pressure Sensitive Adhesive is available on all products. SRP’s processing capabilities for this material includes: Die Cutting, Flash Cutting, Rotary Die Cutting, Waterjet Cutting, Laser Cutting, and Laminating.

————–

If you have any questions or inquiries concerning Rubberlite I-Series, please do not hesitate to call us at 847-593-5630, or email us at info@srpco.com. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have, or assist you in assuring you are choosing the right materials.

Characteristics and Benefits of 3M™ Double Coated Tapes

This broad line of tapes features pressure sensitive adhesive on the front and back for bonding a wide variety of surfaces in many applications. At SRP, we convert an extensive line of 3M Double Coated Tapes. These tapes are excellent for the bonding of various types of materials, including wood, foam, glass, concrete, plastic and steel. The bonds produced offer significant strength and can be applied quickly for long-term and permanent applications.

Some characteristics found with 3M Double Coated Tape products offered by SRP include:

  • Easily converted by die-cutting
  • Easily conformable to irregular surfaces
  • Excellent adhesion to the majority of surfaces
  • Dimensionally stable
  • High level of adhesion from high tack level

3M Double Coated Tape – 200MP High Performance Acrylic

The 200MP line of double coated tapes offer outstanding adhesion to metal and high surface energy plastics with excellent shear strength to resist slippage and edge lifting, provides short term repositionability for placement accuracy.

Product #’s – 92015, 9492MP, 9495B, 9495FL, 9495MP, 9495MPF

3M Double Coated Tape – 300LSE Low Surface Energy Acrylic

The 300LSE line of double coated tape offers features that include good resistance to consumer chemicals and excellent anti-lifting properties. 3M 300LSE acrylic adhesive has a long history of successfully bonding a wide variety of similar and dissimilar materials such as metals, most plastics, glass, papers, and painted surfaces.

Product #’s – 9495LE, 93005LE, 93010LE, 93015LE, 93020LE

3M Double Coated Tape – 300MP High Tack Acrylic

3M Double Coated Tapes with 3M Laminating Adhesive 300MP feature a thin polyester film for dimensional stability and improved handling with ease of die cutting and laminating. 3M adhesive 300MP offers excellent adhesion to many plastics and good shear strength and provides exceptional temperature and chemical resistance that withstands tough application environments.

Product #’s – 9609, 9687, 9690, 9690B, 9786, 9786NP, 9832, 9832HL

Rely on the 3M Double Coated Tape products we offer at SRP when you need top quality surface adhesion, shear strength, conformability and temperature resistance in your project applications.

3M™ Specialty Adhesive Tape Options Offered by SRP

The innovative product line of specialty 3M adhesive tape products we offer at SRP meet a number of requirements for our customers across a range of industries. Some of these solutions include noise mitigation, safety line marking, vibration damping and thermal management.

Some of the 3M specialty adhesive tapes we offer at SRP through our facility include:

  • 3M Safety-Walk
  • 3M Bumpon
  • 3M Dual Lock Recloseable Fasteners
  • 3M Thermally Conductive Interface Tape
  • 3M EMI Shielding Foil
  • 3M Aluminum Foil Tape

3M Adhesive Tape for Worker Safety

Safety in the industrial sector is an extremely important aspect in everyday business. At SRP we offer a range of slip-resistant 3M adhesive tape products to help protect individuals in the workplace. These products be used in both industrial and residential settings and provide protection in wet, dry and oily conditions.

3M Safety-Walk

These slip-resistant tapes offer long-term durability. They are applied easily to surfaces (without the need for anchoring) through a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing without issues like tearing, wrinkling, lifting, curling or shrinking.

3M Bumpon

These self-adhesive rubber bumpers are used to protect surfaces, whether it involves automobiles, electronics or household appliances and cabinets. Various shapes, sizes and colors are available.

3M Dual Lock Recloseable Fasteners

These fasteners offer the strong bonds provided by 3M VHB Acrylic Foam Tape combined with a branded snap-lock system. The resulting holding power is 500% stronger than a traditional hook and loop fastener. Other features include ease-of-alignment and the distinct sound of snap engagement that confirms its attachment.

3M Thermally Conductive Interface Tape

This 3M tape is a pressure sensitive adhesive with flame-retardant fillers and thermally conductive ceramic particles. Through its thin PET carrier, it offers great converting ability, good handling, and reworkability.

3M EMI Shielding Foil

If you’re applications involve reliable grounding, ESD protection or static charge draining, then the 3M EMI shielding foil and fabric tapes are a premier option. These shielding foil tapes come in a variety of options in terms of thickness as well as copper or aluminum material. Other features can include multiple layers, heat spreading and light shielding capabilities. Cover films may also be included with these high performance acrylic adhesive products allowing for better handling and resistance to puncture and tearing.

3M Aluminum Foil Tape

3M Foil Tapes resist flames, temperature extremes, high humidity, exposure to UV rays and most chemicals. With literally hundreds of options to choose from, no one carries a more complete line of these indispensable, metal-backed tapes. These foil tapes are thermally conductive, and have heat- and light-reflective surfaces to promote efficient heating or cooling. They also feature tough, long-wearing backings that are tear and puncture resistant.

High Quality Precision Die Cutting

It’s always difficult trying to explain to a customer, friend or innocent bystander exactly what it is we do here at Standard Rubber Products Co. (SRP). For over 65 years we have been providing custom fabricated products to a variety of industries working with small to large companies. In our world, we are considered a fabricator” or “converter” of non-metallic materials. What this means is we take raw materials such as sponge, foam and rubber and convert or cut them into custom shapes that fit the application they will ultimately be put into. This is where precision die cutting comes into play.

In order to maintain quality and accuracy, manufacturers like SRP use precision die cutting techniques to cut individual parts and components out of these raw materials. These services can be performed in a number of ways to produce products according to exact customer specifications. We can custom fabricate and shape a variety of materials quickly and accurately including: sponge, foam, rubber, foam tape, thermal tape, adhesive, plastic, vinyl, film and much more.

Methods of Precision Die Cutting

A number of different precision die and die less cutting procedures are available in our manufacturing process. The design, material type, and quantities of the customer product will determine how the parts will be manufactured. At SRP, we offer a variety of different methods depending on those customer needs. Our precision die cutting methods include:

  • Steel rule die cutting
  • Flash cutting
  • Rotary die cutting
  • Laser cutting
  • Compound die cutting
  • Water jet cutting

Steel rule die cutting, along with compound die cutting, are century old cutting techniques that are still used today and continue to be revised and revamped as technology continues to change the manufacturing landscape. SRP still utilizes these processes today due to their high output and quality manufacturing capabilities.

Die less cutting has become the ‘new age’ manufacturing in the converting world. By utilizing CAD software, our customers are able to send us computer files with their parts drawn, and those files are seamlessly uploaded into our database. Major benefits to die less cutting include rapid prototyping and ease of design changes. With this technology, there is no need to buy expensive tooling.

Our dedicated teams of engineers are ready to assist you with your next project and provide you with the expertise and quality materials for parts and components that meet your exact specifications.