Huntsman Turns up Heat with New PU Tooling Technology
VITROX® EST system: fast-cure PU to take high temperature tooling to a new dimension
Everberg, BELGIUM – Huntsman has made a major tooling technology breakthrough with the launch of a new polyurethane resin system that cures extremely quickly and allows the production of high heat stable modeling, tooling and rapid prototyping boards.
The availability for the first time of an effective, high temperature stable polyurethane will open up a world of new opportunities in a wide range of sectors including aerospace, automotive, marine and shipbuilding.
With a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 200oC and higher, the new generation VITROX® EST system offers product designers, tooling manufacturers and mold-makers a viable polyurethane alternative to other thermoset-based tooling products – with a number of additional advantages.
The fast cure features of Huntsman’s VITROX® EST system make it possible to significantly reduce demolding and manufacturing cycle times. This can help manufacturers increase productivity, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. The VITROX® EST system can also be precisely formulated to suit specific requirements – offering added flexibility and broadening scope for innovation.
VITROX® EST system’s high Tg properties mean a constant coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) from room temperature to 200oC is achievable. This enables the creation of products and tooling boards with improved long-term stability when exposed to high temperatures. Products and tooling boards made with the VITROX® EST system also demonstrate better impact resistance and a good machinability.
Processing benefits include a long, tunable pot life (5-20 minutes) and a low viscosity. Furthermore, the system is processable on low pressure casting machines.
Wim Gilis, Technical Manager at Huntsman Polyurethanes, said: “Until now, polyurethanes couldn’t match the high-temperature performance offered by other thermosets, but the development of our VITROX® EST system offers forward-looking tooling manufacturers an attractive alternative with all the benefits of polyurethanes chemistry. We constantly strive to develop advanced tooling technologies with additional properties and features to help our customers innovate, boost productivity, reduce costs and gain competitive advantage. The VITROX® EST system is an exciting breakthrough, one we believe will take tooling technology into a new dimension.”
Interested parties can find out more about Huntsman’s VITROX® EST system during UTECH Europe 2015, which takes place in Maastricht, The Netherlands from 14 April. During the UTECH Europe conference, Wim Gilis will give a presentation on the system entitled: ‘High temperature stable VITROX® EST resin system for advanced tooling boards’. The presentation will be delivered during the innovation session in the Florin Room at 14:15 on Tuesday 14 April. For more information please email: wim_gilis@huntsman.com or go to: http://www.huntsman.com/polyurethanes.
About Huntsman:
Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals with 2014 revenues of approximately $13 billion including the acquisition of Rockwood’s performance additives and TiO2 businesses. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 100 manufacturing and R&D facilities in more than 30 countries and employ approximately 16,000 associates within our 5 distinct business divisions. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed in the Huntsman companies’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. In addition, the completion of any transactions described in this release is subject to a number of uncertainties and closing will be subject to approvals and other customary conditions. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that such transactions will be completed or that the company’s expectations will be realized. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws.
VITROX® EST is a registered trademark of Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof in one or more, but not all, countries.
© 2015 Huntsman Corporation. All rights reserved.
CONTACT:
Ilse Vanden Brande
Tel: +32 (0) 2 758 9420
Email: ilse_vanden_brande@huntsman.com