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Plastics and composites: machining
Final Advanced Materials offers the supply and machining of a wide range of plastics and composites. Our team of experts can help you choose the right plastic or composite for your needs.
Overview of plastics
Plastic is a material obtained by polymerisation of compounds (ethylene, propylene, styrene, etc.) derived from oil. It is formulated to satisfy increased requirements in terms of quality, reliability and safety. Many types of plastic exist, and these come in various forms.
Plastics available at Final Advanced Materials:
- POM (Polyoxomethylene)
- PA (Polyamide)
- PEHD (Polyethylene High-Density)
- PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)
- PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
- PP (Polypropylene)
- PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)
Overview of composites
A composite material counts at least two immiscible phases: a matrix and a resin. A filler can be added to the mix to enhance the properties of the final product. At Final Advanced Materials, we specialize in working with various types of technical composites to offer optimal solutions for mechanical, electrical, and thermal challenges. Our products are designed to withstand continuous temperatures of up to 800°C.
Composites are mainly composed of epoxy resin, polyester, phenolic resin or silicon. These materials possess exceptional thermal and electrical insulation properties and are insensitive to magnetic fields. These materials are both resistant and machinable.
Composites available at Final Advanced Materials:
- Glass-Epoxy Composite E6000 et E60
- Glass-polyester composite
- Mica-silicon Composite MC5000HT
- Bakelite fabric (Bakelite® or Celoron)
FAQs that can help you in this category
Calcium silicate boards have a low density (200–1,000 kg/m³), low thermal conductivity (~ 0.05–0.35 W/m·K) and high temperature resistance of up to 1,000°C. They are used as structural insulators.
Mica boards (phlogopite or muscovite) have great dielectric strength (>20 kV/mm) and temperature resistance up to 500–1,000°C, depending on the type. It must be permanently compressed between 2 other boards to preserve its mechanical integrity (the silicon binder degrades at high temperature). Use of mica composite requires particular attention: please contact Final Advanced Materials for more information.
Yes, the inorganic composites produced by Final Advanced Materials can be CNC machined. Machining of calcium silicate-based (CaSiO₃) refractories or derived materials of the insulating boards type involves specific aspects relating to their low density, high porosity and low mechanical cohesion. Although these composites are not hard, they pose a high risk of scaling and crumbling: loads must therefore be minimised, and stripping of material must be avoided. The resulting powder is very abrasive and it is therefore essential that a dust extraction system is installed on your machinery. We can machine these materials in our production shop.
For continuous use at 1,000°C, Final Advanced Materials recommends composites made of ceramic fibres or calcium silicate. These materials have a low thermal conductivity (~0.08–0.35 W/m·K) and high dimensional stability. Nanoporous composites can go as low as 0.02–0.04 W/m·K but are more mechanically fragile. The choice depends on your requirements: thermal insulation or mechanical resistance. We require a complete description of the application and of the stresses before we can recommend the most suitable product.
Final Advanced Materials' high-temperature composite panels have resistances ranging from 1 to 40 MPa when compressed, depending on the density.
Light insulating materials (fibres and microporous materials) are limited (~1–5 MPa), while denser composites (reinforced silicate, zirconia) can resist up to 10–20 MPa and even as high as 40 MPa in the case of a calcium silicate with a density of 1,300 kg/m3.
Specifically: all inorganic composites which are capable of withstanding exposure to high temperatures (>300°C) have no elasticity and are therefore quite fragile.