Guill Tool & Engineering Co. Inc. has developed a six-layer extrusion head/die for automotive applications and a technology called NanoFlow.
The six-layer head/die extrudes automotive parts such as those including fluropolymer materials that are resistant to fuel, ultraviolet light, heat and chemicals. The six-layer die also can handle non-fluropolymers and adhesives that work well when combined in thin layers of 0.02 millimeter or less, with new head/die tubing end products.
All inner layers are fully encapsulated.
Guill Tool, of West Warwick, R.I., said benefits include a lower cost for a single, six-layer system as compared to two three-layer systems or three two-layer systems to make the same products.
“The six layer's operational advantages are the compact design with a short axial length,” said Richard Guillemette, vice president. “This minimizes residence time, but also makes the parts lighter and easier to handle and clean. This ensures that the material and color changes that may be required are done as quickly as possible.”
NanoFlow can create more than a thousand layers from a single extruder, as opposed to the previous level of about a dozen layers.
Guillemette said Guill Tool started working several years ago to overcome the limitations of the number of layers that could be used in tubular or hollow products. Nanotechnology can provide a high degree of performance properties, including improved mechanical, barrier and optical properties.
Using NanoFlow, strong, brittle materials that are prone to crack propagation can be combined with soft, ductile layers, limiting cracking.
Tel. 401-828-7600, fax 401-823-5310, email [email protected].