Performance Plastics

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  • PEEK For Industrial Applications

    gears made out of Ryton plastic

    PEEK is a high-performance engineering plastic with outstanding resistance to harsh chemicals, excellent mechanical strength, and dimension stability. PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) is an organic thermoplastic polymer, comprised of a semi-crystalline structure which gives it a strong chemical structure.

    PEEK is an excellent choice for industrial applications because of its ability to resist harsh conditions:

    Resistant to a Wide Range of Chemicals: 

    PEEK performs in the toughest chemical environments, capable of resisting more than 140 types of acids, bases, oils, liquids, salts, and elements.

     Immense Temperature Resistance: 

    PEEK has an extremely high melting point at 662 °F. It can be used in applications with temperatures up to 482 °F. 

     Extended Resistance to Hydrolysis Process: 

    Hydrolysis refers to the chemical process where water is added to a substance. PEEK has the ability to withstand exposure to steam and water for long periods of time without degrading.

     Great Durability: 

    PEEK is tough, stiff, and extremely strong.  It has the capability to withstand friction and can perform for long periods of time without suffering from wear and tear.

    PEEK is an optimal choice for industrial applications. Most industries see PEEK as the preferred material for parts that are used in extremely harsh application industries. These include oil and gas, mining, heavy equipment, and renewable energy.

    Performance Plastics’ team of experienced engineers possesses the expertise to design and manufacture technically challenging projects and offer complex solutions within harsh application industries.

    For more information on how Performance Plastics can assist in your material selection challenges, please contact Rich Reed, VP Sales & Marketing at 513.321.8404 or rreed@performanceplastics.com.

     

     

  • Performance Plastics – Designing & Molding Complex Plastic Parts

    Every project has its own needs and goals.  Complex geometries involving fine details or sharp corners often cannot be achieved by traditional plastic molding. Advanced plastic injection molding processes allow designers to combine numerous complex features into a single component, reducing the need for secondary machining or surface finishing operations.

    Plastic Injection molding allows design freedom not easily matched by other traditional processes.  Performance Plastics’ augments the latest software tools including solid modeling, mold flow analysis and finite element analysis with an internally developed iterative tool design approach to deliver complex geometries and densities superior to most other operations.

    Our tooling modification process results in best-in-class part tolerances, particularly useful in molding mission critical parts where dimensional attributes need to be extremely precise.  We use this approach to produce net shape molded parts of exceptional quality, eliminating, or significantly reducing secondary matching operations resulting in material and process cost savings.

    Performance Plastics, located in Cincinnati, OH has over 30 years’ experience in molding tight tolerance advanced plastics such as Fluoropolymers (FEP/PFA Torlon, Ryton plastic, Peek & Ultem) for many industries.  We have developed proprietary processes enabling injection molding of parts that are thin walled, with tight dimensional tolerances, and complex geometries.

    For more information and solutions, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 513-321-8404 or email rreed@performanceplastics.com.

  • EnduroSharp® Awarded GSA Contract with the Federal Government

    Performance Plastics is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule Contract with the federal government for our EnduroSharp®   Torlon® non-marring aircraft maintenance tools. The GSA is the centralized authority for the acquisition and management of federal government resources. GSA Schedule Contracts assist federal employees in purchasing products and services.

    To be approved for a GSA contract, companies must go through a rigorous process of review that takes months, if not years. The requirements include that the company meet some basic standards of strength and reliability. It must have been in business for at least two years, must be able to demonstrate financial stability, must have successful past performance under its belt, and must be compliant with the Trade Agreements Act.

    Additionally, a Dun & Bradstreet Open Ratings Past Performance Evaluation report must be done. This report is an in-depth review of a company’s past performance, which uses Dun & Bradstreet’s own data and analytic resources together with direct customer survey responses to compile a full picture.

    Performance Plastics is proud to say that our proposal was approved and can now make our EnduroSharp®  tools available to the federal government’s various agencies and employees.

    “We are thrilled to have received this contract with GSA and view it as an opportunity to expand our business into new, but not unfamiliar, areas,” said Rich Reed, VP of Sales & Marketing.  “PPL has supported federal projects for many years.  Through this GSA contract, we now can extend that support even further within the Government sector.”

    Our offerings will now be available on the GSAAdvantage! federal online catalog, making them accessible to hundreds of federal customers, including federal and executive agencies, the Department of Defense, the government of the District of Columbia, government contractors authorized to spend federal dollars, and other institutions and organizations that support the federal government.

     

     

  • PEEK® for Aerospace/Defense Applications

    PEEK or polyetheretherketone belongs to a family of polymers called polyketones or iPAEKs.  This means that is it built from the following building blocks:

    • ARYL
    • ETHER
    • KETONE

    PEEK is one of the highest performing thermoplastics in the world.  Compared to metals, PEEK based materials are very light weight, easily shaped, resistant to corrosion and have considerably higher specific strength (strength per unit weight).

    PEEK is optimal for aerospace applications because although it is a thermoplastic, it boasts heat resistance, little to no reaction against harmful chemicals and radiation, and comparable tensile and load strength to that of titanium and steel while being many times lighter.

    PEEK® does not offer merely two or three properties that mark it as the polymer of choice for aerospace/defense; it has a whole variety of them.  They include:

    • High heat resistance

    Tests have shown that PEEK polymer has a continuous use temperature of 260°C (500°F). This can make it suitable for use in a wide range of thermally aggressive environments.  PEEK tolerates friction and resists wear in dynamic applications like thrust washers and seal rings.

    • Chemically unreactive

    PEEK resists the damage that can be inflicted in chemically aggressive operational environments. It can resist jet fuel, hydraulic fluids, de-icers and insecticides used in the aerospace industry.  This holds true over wide ranges of pressure, temperature, and time.

    • Mechanically strong

    PEEK offers excellent strength and stiffness over a wide temperature range.  PEEK-based composites have specific strength many times that of metals and alloys.  “Creep” refers to a material becoming permanently deformed over an extended period when under constant applied stress. “Fatigue” refers to the brittle failure of a material under a repeated cyclic loading.  PEEK has both high creep and fatigue resistance thanks to its semi-crystalline structure and has been shown to be more durable than many other polymers and some metals over a long and useful lifetime.

    • Difficult to ignite or burn

    PEEK has excellent flammability performance.  It resists combustion up to almost 600°C.  When it can be made to burn at very high temperatures, it will not support combustion and it emits little smoke. This is one reason why PEEK is widely used in commercial aircraft.

    Aerospace/defense part manufacturers now use PEEK as a way to improve the weight and durability of their parts.  PEEK is a standard high-performance plastics in the aerospace/defense industry applications.

    Performance Plastics’ team of experienced engineers possess the expertise to design and manufacture technically challenging projects and offer complex solutions within the aerospace/defense industries.

    For more information on how Performance Plastics can assist in your material selection challenges, please contact Rich Reed, VP Sales & Marketing at 513.321.8404 or rreed@performanceplastics.com.

  • Pexco LLC continues expansion with acquisition of Performance Plastics

    JOHNS CREEK, GA (September 15, 2022) – Pexco LLC, a leading North American specialty plastics manufacturer, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Performance Plastics Ltd. Located in Cincinnati, OH, and founded in 1982, Performance Plastics is a precision injection molder of high performance, tight tolerance components for the most demanding applications within industries such as aerospace, defense, medical & life science, and precision industrial.

    Pexco CEO Sam Patel stated, “We are excited to welcome Performance Plastics to the Pexco family of companies. Performance Plastics has an outstanding reputation in the market and is recognized as a leader in the production of thermoplastic parts that are geometrically complex and with tight tolerances. There are few manufacturers who can help customers meet these standards – Performance Plastics’ high performance polymer knowledge and expertise are powerful differentiators.”

    Chris Lawson COO of Performance Plastics added, “We are thrilled to bring our expertise to the Pexco family. Our focus on engineering quality and strong work ethic are a great cultural fit, and we look forward to collaborating with the fluoropolymer and other high performance polymer experts under the Pexco umbrella”

    About Pexco LLC

    Based in Atlanta, with multiple plants across North America, Pexco is a leader in the design and fabrication of engineered plastic components. It provides standard and specialty parts and components to manufacturers and end users for a broad range of custom applications, including the specialty industrial, fluid handling, lighting, traffic safety, fence, and electrical insulation industries. Pexco offers a full range of custom design, engineering, and fabrication services, including ISO 9001:2015 registration, across its manufacturing operations. For more information, visit www.pexco.com or call (770) 343-4590.

    About Performance Plastics Ltd.

    Performance Plastics is a custom injection molder of high performance polymer parts. Based in Cincinnati, OH and founded in 1982, Performance Plastics specializes in tight tolerance thermoplastic components for demanding applications. The company is renowned for its fluoropolymer, Torlon, PEEK and Ultem expertise, proprietary manufacturing processes and exceptional engineering support.

    About Odyssey Investment Partners

    Odyssey Investment Partners, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, is a leading private equity investment firm with a more than 25-year history of partnering with skilled managers to transform middle-market companies into more efficient and diversified businesses with strong growth profiles. Odyssey makes majority-controlled investments in industries with a long-term positive outlook and favorable secular trends. For further information about Odyssey, please visit www.odysseyinvestment.com.

     

  • Why Machine when you can Injection Mold

    Performance Plastics specializes in the precision injection molding of technically complicated parts in advanced materials, eliminating the need to machine.

    High performance plastic materials offer ideal properties when it comes to durability. Resins like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE/Teflon®) are known for their dielectric strength, low dissipation, chemical resistance, outstanding performance at elevated temperatures, and levels of coefficient friction. However, these unique properties can make molding some fluoropolymers quite difficult. Performance Plastics has found a way to offer the benefits of these materials by injection molding alternate fluoropolymers such as FEP and PFA.

    At Performance Plastics, we are experts at precision injection molding. We have developed proprietary tool design software, processes and equipment enabling us to injection mold components having complex geometries made from challenging high-performance thermoplastic materials (PFA/FEP/PEEK®/PTFE) and highly loaded compounds. We utilize a unique combination of extensive material knowledge, mold flow analysis, a design system and process expertise to eliminate or minimize the need for secondary operations.

    Switching from machining parts to injection molding parts can be very beneficial. Not only does injection molding help lower costs, but it also allows for highly efficient production, complexity in part design, and enhanced part strength. Injection molding produces uniformity, the ability to make millions of virtually identical parts.

    Injection molding isn’t for every project, but it can be cost beneficial for applications producing more than 10,000 pieces of the same part year over year. At Performance Plastics, we serve a variety of industries, from medical & life science, aerospace & defense to diversified industrial.

    To learn about how precision injection molding can replace machined parts, contact Rich Reed, our Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at (513) 321-8404 or RReed@performanceplastics.com.

  • Performance Plastics featured in Manufacturing in Focus Magazine

    Celebrating a Milestone with New Products & Big Goals

    Performance Plastics Ltd. of Cincinnati, Ohio marked its fortieth anniversary this year as a leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance thermoplastic conponents.  The company works with specialized polymers and tight tolerances, and follows rigorous quality assurance protocols.  It anticipates big growth shortly, based on its wealth of experience and cutting edge products such as EnduroSharp(R) aerospace maintenace tools.

    To continue reading: https://mags.manufacturinginfocus.com/mag/MIFSep2022/#page=22

     

     

  • FEP Uses in Semiconductor Manufacturing

    Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) is a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoro ethylene that is chemically resistant, electrically stable, insulating and possesses useful low shielding properties.  It is easily formable and was developed as a melt processable material.

    Semiconductors are the brains of electronics, enabling advances in countless applications and emerging technologies. The application of semiconductor devices can be found in almost every technology today, ranging from cars, phones, computers and much more. The manufacturing of semiconductors and semi-conductor related products require reliable, high purity materials that can survive harsh operating conditions.  The correct solution can increase production efficiency, reduce power requirements and increase process reliability.

    FEP coatings are well suited for applications in the semiconductor industry where they are used in the manufacture of wafer carriers, sensors, seals, fittings and pump parts which are optimal for transporting high-purity chemicals in semiconductor manufacturing.

    Key Material Properties for Semiconductor Applications

    • Reliable mechanical performance
    • Low levels of total organic carbon
    • High performance in pure deionized water
    • Low permeation rates
    • Resistance to both dry and wet process

    For more information on FEP uses in Semiconductor manufacturing, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 513.321.8404 or rreed@performanceplastics.com

  • Get to Know Performance Plastics

    You know Performance Plastics for our EnduroSharp® Non-marring Aircraft Maintenance Tool, but did you know that Performance Plastic is also an expert in tight tolerance custom injection molding?

    For four decades, Performance Plastics has been delivering the highest quality custom plastic injection molding solutions in the industry for our customers. We take a highly specialized and consultative approach, working closely with our customers to develop the solutions needed to solve the most complicated issues.

    We have the experience to take a project from concept to production in-house. Every step of the process, from design and engineering, to tooling, protype, and full production, is done under the supervision of our experienced team. We produce complex, tight tolerance custom molded products of all types for the aerospace, medical and diversified industrial sectors.

    We are technical specialists in collaborating and executing advanced, custom solutions for our customers. Injection-molded product fabrication is a complex process, especially when dealing with parts that are the size of a pin.  Our process is comprehensive and efficient to ensure that custom solutions can be delivered quickly and cost-effectively. High performance materials include PFA, FEP, PEEK, ULTEM, and Torlon.

    With the ability to injection mold shot sizes as small as .015 grams with a wall thickness as thin as .008 of inch, Performance Plastics is anything but typical.  We are one of the leaders in tight tolerance, highly detailed medical parts.

    For more information on how Performance Plastics can solve your tight tolerance molding challenges, please contact Rich Reed, VP Sales & Marketing at 513.321.8404 or rreed@performanceplastics.com.

     

     

  • Types of Plastics used in the Semiconductor Industry

    Precision and purity are key in the semiconductor industry.  Plastics help maintain high standards of precision and purity during semiconductor production, ensuring that less time and resources are wasted and that electronics function properly.

    Since plastics are typically insulators, they may seem an unlikely material for use in semiconductor / electrical applications. However, in recent years, the composition of some plastic materials has been adapted to make these plastic materials behave as conductors or semi-conductors as opposed to insulators.

    The semiconductor industry requires components that are manufactured from materials having a combination of heat resistance, conductivity, insulating, and shielding properties. All these properties are exhibited by high performance plastics. They are ideal materials with which to produce end products, as well as parts in the processing equipment used to manufacture semiconductors.

    High performance plastics such as Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP), Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK), and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are characterized by their exceptional properties in different areas. High performance plastics are largely used where highest demands are placed on thermal or chemical resistance or product mechanics.

    • FEP – Fluorinatedethylenepropylene is a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and   tetrafluoroetheylene;   boosts chemical resistance and useful low friction properties, and is  easily formable.  FEP is soft, slightly flexible, possesses a lower melting point of 260°C and is highly transparent and resistant to sunlight.  It is vastly superior in some coating applications involving exposure to detergents.

     

    • PEEK – Poly Ether Ketone  is a semicrystalline thermoplastic with exceptional high temperature performance, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance. It is capable of maintaining its stiffness at high temperatures and is suitable for continuous use up to 260°C (480°F). In addition, PEEK does not undergo hydrolysis and can be used for significantly long periods of time in areas where steam or water is common.

     

    • PTFE – Polytetrafluoroethylene is a tough, flexible, non-resilient material of average tensile strength with great thermal properties and excellent resistance to chemicals and passage of electric current. The coefficient of friction is unusually low and believed to be lower than any other solids. PTFE is an outstanding insulator over a wide range of temperatures and frequency.

    Performance Plastics are specialists in high performance plastics engineering for the semiconductor industry. We partner with our customers to offer solutions to some of the most challenging applications.  For more information, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 513.321.8404 or email rreed@performanceplastics.com.