High-temperature performance combined with unmatched processability
DALLAS, FRANKFURT, SHANGHAI (April 7, 2014) - Thanks to Fortron® ICE polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) from Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, Xtreme RFID - a Cascade Engineering company manufacturing one-piece, fully encapsulated RFID tags for asset tracking - is now able to use its proprietary plastic injection molding process to cost effectively manufacture the Allied Series VX-Mid™ HT, a rugged, high-temperature mount-on-metal ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag built to withstand extreme industrial environments.
"Our newest RFID tag ensures read reliability in difficult conditions, such as high temperatures, pressures and harsh environments," said Mike Lewis, business unit leader of Xtreme RFID. "Celanese's exciting development of Fortron ICE PPS and Xtreme's state-of-the-art plastic manufacturing expertise has led to the creation of one of the most robust tracking products available on the market."
Fortron PPS is a semi-crystalline polymer that features exceptional high-temperature performance up to 240 degrees Celsius (464 degrees Fahrenheit); outstanding resistance to fuels, oils and solvents; excellent hardness, stiffness and dimensional stability; and is inherently flame-resistant.
The 1.1- by 2.3-inch VX-Mid HT package features a 25-foot read range when mounted on metal inventory. A permanently bonded Fortron ICE (Improved Crystallization Evolution) PPS encapsulation prevents water or chemical ingress (IP68 rated) and provides the RFID core with an added physical protection, especially in autoclave processes.
Fortron ICE PPS has quickly enabled expansion of the Allied Series product line, an RFID tag partnership between Xtreme RFID and Vizinex RFID announced in January. With Fortron ICE PPS from Celanese, Xtreme's proprietary injection molding, and Vizinex's exclusive ViziCore™ RFID tag technology, the RFID industry is ready to take on the harshest high-temperature application. The Allied Series tags will be featured at Xtreme RFID's Booth 101 during RFID Journal LIVE! 2014 from April 8-10 in Orlando, Fla.
New Fortron ICE grades use an innovative platform technology developed by Celanese material scientists that deliver material properties that are equivalent to or better than standard injection molding Fortron PPS grades and significantly improves the processing characteristics.
"Using its proprietary plastic injection molding process, Xtreme RFID is able to expand its product line by taking full advantage of Fortron ICE 716A, which belongs to our new generation of PPS and optimizes their process with low mold temperatures," said Edward Hallahan, Fortron PPS global marketing manager. "Fortron ICE technology enables full crystallinity at lower temperatures while maintaining PPS high-performance characteristics for excellent chemical and thermal resistance, high hardness, rigidity and dimensional stability, and low creep and moisture absorption."
New Fortron ICE grades can help customers stay competitive by reducing cycle times, scrap rates and overall production costs, as well as improve flatness and enable easier demolding.
Injection molders that use hot molding systems, operating at temperatures greater than 135 degrees Celsius (275 degrees Fahrenheit), can:
reduce molding cycle times, thereby providing production cost savings and increasing net operating capacity;
improve demolding of parts, thus decreasing the number of broken parts and reducing costly rework.
In addition, molders with cold injection units, operating at temperatures between 90 degrees to 135 degrees Celsius (194 degrees to 275 degrees Fahrenheit), can achieve:
full crystallization at lower temperatures, opening new opportunities without the additional cost of hot molding equipment.
Fortron PPS is a specialty semi-crystalline polymer often used to replace metals and thermosets in various automotive, electrical/electronics, aerospace, fluid handling and industrial/consumer applications. |
