2. New Solution To An Old Problem
• Many materials and processes have been proposed for Portable
Electronic Enclosures, each requiring compromise in one or more
key characteristics.
• Traditional materials such as aluminum require extensive machining
steps, are not easily adapted to imaginative style, and they lack
damage tolerance.
• Steel is generally limited to rectilinear design and is very heavy.
• Magnesium alloys require expensive tooling, considerable post
processing, lack damage tolerance, and are expensive.
• Injection molding processes offer lightweight fabrications with
considerable style in smaller components. Injection molded parts
are generally less damage tolerant, do not have good thermal
properties, and require expensive tooling. They are very competitive
in high volume small parts.
• A new alternative to all these is continuous fiber thermoplastic
composite products made by American Matrix LLC, Tarpon Springs
Florida.
3. Continuous Fiber Thermoplastic
Composites
• The continuous fiber in a thermoplastic matrix such as nylon
combines to make an extremely stiff, damage tolerant, lightweight
structural composite.
• A comparable part in machined aluminum would weigh 40% more.
This is a strong advantage for the composite.
• In addition to the high strength to weight ratio they also have very
good thermal conductivity and have extremely low coefficients of
thermal expansion. This simplifies tolerance issues for devices such
as optical benches that would be affected by movement of a cover.
It also simplifies many thermal management problems.
• EMI/EMC shielding is incorporated in the composite and provide
superior performance that does not erode or flake off with time.
Styling and ergonomic designs are very compatible with the
process; your designers are free to be creative in their designs.
4. Low Cost Fabrication
• The continuous fiber thermoplastic composites
are made through a melt and compression
molding process.
• Contrasting with conventional thermoset
composites which rely on solvent based
chemistry and complicated cure schedules.
• Many of these materials can be molded in low
cost aluminum molds, higher temperature
materials require steel.
• The process is very fast for a composite, under 5
minutes a part for many of the parts
contemplated for this application.
5. Thermoplastic Composite Advantages
Compared to Metals:
• High Strength/Stiffness; Toughness
• Reduced Weight
• Low Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE)
• Corrosion and Chemical Resistance
• Increased Part Function via Parts Consolidation
• Reduced Secondary Operations
• Styling Freedom/Contoured Shapes
Compared to Thermoset Composites:
• No Need For Controlled Storage/Unlimited Shelf Life
• Significantly Faster Cycle Times (lower mfg. cost)
• Environmentally Sound and Recyclable
• Can be re-processed – reduced scrap
• Superior Toughness
6. Winning Solution
• Consistency, rapid processing, and style
• Combined with high strength, light weight,
and thermal conductivity
• Make this material the best choice for high
performance portable equipment
enclosures.
7. Thermoplastic Resins
American Matrix Corp’s offers a wide variety of matrix resins and fibers
suitable for many applications.
Increasing
Use
Temperature
and
Performance
High Performance
Aerospace
Defense
High Temperature Industrial
Oil Field/Down Hole
Medical
Engineering
Sporting Goods
Automotive
General Industrial
Lawn & Garden
Commodity
Orthotic/Prosthetic
Infrastructure
Packaging
PI
PAI
PES PPS
PEEK
PA
PET
POM
PBT
SMA
PMMA
ABS
PVC
PC
PMMA/PC
PPO
PP
PA12
HDPE
LDPE
Amorphous Crystalline
PEI
PU
