3 Apr 2007
New PerforMax® HR Glass Fiber from Owens Corning Raises Hydrolysis Resistance in PPS Polymers
PerforMax® HR 562 Provides Ideal Reinforcement for PPS Enabling it to Replace Metal in Plumbing and Hot Water Contact Components
Paris, France – April 3, 2007 – Using JEC Composites Show 2007 - Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris, France - as the launch platform, Owens Corning (NYSE:OC) is presenting PerforMax® HR 562 chopped strand glass fiber, the latest technology advance in its PerforMax® family of hydrolysis resistant high performance thermoplastic reinforcements.
Featured at Booth Q30, Hall 1, PerforMax® HR 562 reinforcement has been specifically developed for use with Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) - one of highest continuous temperature resistant thermoplastics - to which it brings optimum heat resistance of any current reinforcement available for use with this polymer.
Of key importance is that PerforMax® HR 562 enables PPS to replace metals as well as expensive alternative hydrolysis resistant specialty thermoplastics in hot water plumbing and heating applications. The hydrolysis and fatigue resistance of PPS reinforced with PerforMax® HR 562 led to its adoption by leading Japanese valve manufacturer, Time Engineering Co Ltd, for its diaphragm solenoid valves for domestic hot water boilers. Able to maintain its mechanical properties when in contact with boiling water enabled the material to successfully replace brass and bronze in these components.
PerforMax® HR 562 chopped strand is tailored to the demands of applications exposed to fluids at high temperatures, such as parts used for a broad range of plumbing applications. PerforMax® HR 562 reinforcement delivers:
According to Bernard Kaesmacher, Global Product Manager Chopped Strands at Owens Corning, “While PPS is a widely accepted polymer of choice for plumbing applications in Japan and throughout Asia-Pacific, it is not yet commonly used by the plumbing and heating industry in either Europe or the U.S.A.
“However, because PPS modified with PerforMax® HR 562 reinforcement can offer a considerable lower cost option to alternate polymers with comparable hydrolysis and fatigue performance, the material is attracting strong interest from the HVAC industry. This is borne out by Time Engineering’s growing export sales of its valves into both the European and North American markets,” says Kaesmacher.
PerforMax® HR 562 also offers production advantages. The PerforMax® family of chopped strand reinforcements give significantly lower outgassing than competitive products, thus delivering cleaner mold surfaces, less downtime and enhanced final part aesthetics.
Notes for editors
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is a world leader in building materials systems and composite solutions. A Fortune 500 company for more than 50 years, Owens Corning people redefine what is possible each day to deliver high-quality products and services ranging from insulation, roofing, siding and manufactured stone veneer, to glass composite materials used in transportation, electronics, telecommunications and other high-performance applications. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning is a market-leading innovator of glass fiber technology with sales of $6.5 billion in 2006 and 19,000 employees in 26 countries. Additional information is available at www.owenscorning.com www.owenscorning.com .
