31 Jul 2001
PolyOne provides cost-effective solution for leading European manufacturer of electronic instrumentation
Metrix has gained a reputation for its innovative design and high quality testing and measurement products. It is part of the French based Chauvin Arnoux group, Europe’s leading manufacturer of electronic instrumentation.
Due to the introduction of new, lightweight electronic transformers into one of their portable oscilloscopes, Metrix needed to re-design and lighten the chassis, a critical part. At the same time, they also needed to reduce production costs. Maintaining optimum mechanical properties, such as impact resistance, especially during transportation was essential. As usual in this type of application, the material had to comply with the UL94 V0 standard to meet flammability requirements.
Drawing on an extensive range of materials and their experience in solving similar problems in chassis parts for office equipment, engineers at PolyOne Engineered Materials SA France rapidly developed a solution.
By selecting a grade of an EDGETEK™ compound based on an amorphous polymer with a combination of fillers, the engineers successfully reduced the overall weight of this large component while maintaining the structural stiffness required. The combination of fillers overcame the problems often associated with glass-fiber filled parts, where the fibers align themselves with the flow of the material thereby provoking uneven shrinkage in the cross-flow direction. This anisotropic behaviour is often exacerbated by the ribs, bosses and complex flow paths in chassis designs.
Polycarbonate was chosen as the base polymer because of its extremely high impact strength, and unlike polyamides, it does not rely on moisture during processing to give it additional toughness. To this combination was added a flame-retardant treatment to achieve its UL94 V0 rating at 1.6mm and meet the customer's final stipulation.
The last step involved optimising the filler ratio. PolyOne's engineers collaborated with the molder to achieve processing conditions that delivered less than 5mm warp over the chassis' 500mm length.
Overall, PolyOne not only solved the customer’s quality problem, but also provided a solution that was more cost-effective than that offered using the original material.
PolyOne will exhibit in the new hall 6 stand 6C40 at the ‘K’ show, the industry’s largest international triennial exhibition staged in Düsseldorf, Germany, from October 25 to
November 1, 2001.
Reader enquiries
PolyOne Corporation
33587 Walker Road
Cleveland
Ohio
U.S.A.
Notes for editors
PolyOne Corporation is an international polymer services company with customer-focused operations in thermoplastic and elastomer compounds, specialty vinyl resins, specialty polymer formulations and inks, engineered films, color and additive systems, rubber compounding and thermoplastic resin distribution. PolyOne was formed from the consolidation of the former
M.A. Hanna Company and The Geon Company.
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, PolyOne has more than 9,000 employees at 80 manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, and joint ventures in
North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company’s 2000 pro forma revenues exceeded $3 billion. Information on the Company’s products and services can be found at www.polyone.com
Related images
The new oscilloscope chassis developed for Metrix by engineers at PolyOne Engineered Materials SA France uses a grade of an EDGETEK compound based on an amorphous polymer with a combination of fillers, to maximise dimensional stability while maintaining structural stiffness.
Editorial enquiries
Alan Flower
EMG
Stephen Duckworth
PolyOne Engineered Materials Europe