While converting elastomers into finished products and parts is an important part of the CRG business, a significant number of customers depend on CRG to fashion their products from plastic films. In this blog, we look at some of the plastic films we convert into finished parts and products, as well as the types of parts we produce and the applications they serve.
Plastic films: advantages
Plastic films, such as Mylar®, are strong, durable and flexible. Plastic film materials possess a number of useful properties, including flexibility, electrical conductivity and shielding, chemical and flame resistance, the ability to reflect, diffuse or block light, and more. Given the range of materials available, CRG can help customers to select the plastic film with the properties and characteristics needed to service their particular application. We then apply our over-30 years experience and manufacturing capabilities to convert the material into a fully finished part which meets all the application requirements.
Plastic films: finished parts and applications
CRG’s converting capabilities allow us to transform a range of plastic films into finished products and parts. Parts can be cut on CNC flat-bed, rotary, or traditional die cutting machines, laminated or layered with other materials, or produced with a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) backing. Plastic films that we often work with include the following:
Polyimide films (Kapton®). Parts made from Kapton® high temperature polyimide film support applications in aerospace, military, automotive, and telecommunications. Precision cut parts produced from Kapton® are often used in vehicle subassemblies, mobile phones and cameras, computers, and more. For applications where extremes of heat and vibration are the norm, product designers and engineers rely on Kapton® because of the ability to maintain its unique combination of mechanical properties under the harshest of conditions.
Electrical insulating films (ITW Formex®). Parts made from Formex® material can be readily formed, bent or scored. Formex® parts are flame retardant, have excellent dielectric strength, and chemical resistance. The superior flexibility of Formex®, together with its flame retardancy and excellent dielectric performance make it a preferred material for producing insulating and barrier parts for electrical and electronic applications.
Polyester film (Mylar®). Mylar® is an optically clear material used to produce parts for component insulation as well as industrial, commercial, and medical applications (such as face shields). A variety of grades are available. Under normal conditions, parts made from Mylar do not become brittle with age, nor will they yellow. Mylar parts are dimensionally stable, have high resistance to moisture, and possess good electrical insulating properties.
Transparent conductive films. We can convert clear nanoparticle conductive film into finished parts which service EMI/RFI shielding, transparent heating, touchscreen, and other innovative applications.
Nomex®. Nomex® is a heat and flame-resistant aramid electrical insulating material. While not a plastic film, it can be laminated with polyester or polyimide film to produce parts that combine the properties of these materials. Nomex® has excellent dielectric properties, as well as good temperature and mechanical resistance. Parts produced from Nomex® are often used in electrical applications (such as transformers), as well as industrial and military-grade applications.
With our advanced production capabilities, CRG can produce parts from plastic film with simple or complex geometries, as well as parts with PSA backing. In addition, we can provide secondary operations such as laminating, slitting, and bonding, where required. We can handle both small and large run orders equally well, as well as JIT production and emergency service when needed.
All parts are produced in our ISO 9001:2015 registered facility, assuring customers of the highest possible quality. We can support a full range of needs, from part design and prototyping, through to final production.
If you have a need for parts produced from plastic film, our sales department will be pleased to speak with you and review your requirements. Please contact our sales department directly at crg@canadarubbergroup.com.