14 Nov 2001
High temperature VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer chosen for miniaturised insulating sheathing
Radiall SA of Château Renault, France, has selected PEEK™ polymer from Victrex for its new IMP series of subminiature coaxial plugs. These plugs are designed for use in surface mount technology, (SMT), between two printed circuit boards. With a height of only 3 mm, these miniscule plugs allow optimum space efficiency and, with a usable frequency band of up to 6 GHz, they can be used for a wide range of applications, including mobile phones and portable computers.
In the development of these plugs, the designers relied on PEEK™ polymer with its established success in similar applications for use in contact with soldering baths. The small insulating sheathing inside the plug, made from 30% glass fibre-reinforced PEEK™ polymer, withstands soldering temperatures of up to 260ºC in the short-term without changes in dimensions, which is critical for the in-use function of the plug. PEEK™ polymer with glass fibre reinforcement has a heat distortion temperature of 315ºC.
Due to the extremely small dimensions involved, Radiall selected the high-flow VICTREX® PEEK™ 150GL30 grade for consistently accurate mould filling and part tolerances. A component weighing less than 0.01 g produced in a multi-cavity mould also imposes high demands on the mould construction. In collaboration with the Applications Technology Department of Victrex Europa GmbH, an effective mould design was successfully developed.
By using PEEK™ polymer, Radiall was able to significantly reduce the size of the coaxial plugs, the number required and, above all, costs. PEEK™ polymer will continue to play an important role in the development of the company’s future plug systems. In particular, the material will satisfy the emerging trend towards lead-free solder systems in which temperatures can rise to 300ºC.
Reader enquiries
Helen SwarbrickVictrex plc
Victrex Technology Centre
Hillhouse International
Thornton Cleveleys
Lancashire FY5 4QD
United Kingdom
Tel +44 1253 897700
Fax +44 1253 897701
United Kingdom
Notes for editors
Victrex plc, which has its sales, technical and production headquarters at Thornton Cleveleys in Lancashire, UK, had a turnover of more than £58m in the last financial year.
The company exports 98 percent of its VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer output to OEMs in the automotive, industrial, medical, food and electronics market sectors in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
Information on products, technical support services and sales and distribution contacts worldwide, can be accessed through the company’s web site: www.victrex.com
The PEEK™ Trademark
For many years Victrex plc has been using the PEEK™ trademark to refer to its brand of Polyaryletherketone. Victrex plc is the sole manufacturer and supplier of the PEEK™ brand polymer world-wide. PEEK™ is a trademark of Victrex plc.
Related images
Photocaption
VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer was chosen by Radiall SA in Château Renault, France, for the new IMP series of subminiature coaxial plugs, as PEEK™ polymer has proved particularly suitable for use in contact with soldering baths.
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