TPT July 2011

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96 July 2011 ›
Coating, PiCkling & galvanising
EMMEDI Polyethylene Coating Equipment
is based on its highly proven solid state
based on IGBTs technology (inverter
power over 2 Megawatt), which allows
a consistant and proper heat treatment
of the full body of the tube or pipe at a
temperature which goes between 180°C
and 240°C. The temperature of the tube
is controlled by an optical pyrometer
targeting the tube surface between inductor
and PET extruder of the tube where is
applied the polyethylene coating in order
to comply with the American Petroleum
Institute – API standards and American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
requirements.
Tubes and pipes with polyethylene
coating are guaranteed in working
conditions, which are typically between
-40 and +80°C and they are proved to
a test voltage insulation at 25kV. The
ordinary applications of these coated
pipes are: oil and gas pipe lines, urban
gas distribution, outdoor pipe line and
so forth.
Indeed, the coating of metallic tubes
and pipes with a polyethylene film
extruded is an excellent modern process
to protect tubes surface against chemical
aggression due to the soil acidity, the
corrosion due to the leakage currents,
and mechanical aggression due to the
ballast. Inductors are coaxial to the pipe,
multiturns, water-cooled inside with
deionised water and the typical gap to
the tube is 60 to 150mm on the radius
with an operating frequency in the range
0.1 to 5kHz.
Saet SpA – Italy
Fax: +39 011 9974328
Email:
Website:
EMMEDI polyethylene coating equipment
WHEN Datec Coating Corporation was
developing its new thick-film technology
for applying a high power electric heat
source to an aluminium substrate, it chose
Vicote® Coatings from Victrex Polymer
Solutions as the insulating component
for the top and bottom dielectric layers of
the thick-film element. Datec’s thick-film
heating system has integral conductive
and resistive layers, which are screen-
printed directly onto an aluminium heat
sink that is coated with Vicote Coatings.
This UL recognised and RoHS compliant
technology is used to manufacture fast-
acting, low-profile heaters that offer
unsurpassed performance advantages
including high thermal conductivity and
responsiveness for a wide range of
industrial and consumer products.
Previously, heaters of this performance
level could only be printed on stainless
steel and alumina substrates. According
to Datec CEO, Dominic Talalla, “The key
to Datec’s innovation is the combination of
the dielectric material containing the Vicote
Coating and the patented conductive and
resistive materials. The Vicote Coating is
an excellent binder which, when combined
with our other components, creates a
strong bond to the substrate and provides
excellent dielectric strength. It works very
well with our resistor and conductor layers
and together the layered system absorbs
thermal expansion mis-match between the
heating layers and the substrate.”
Vicote Coatings are based on Vitrex®
Peek™ polymer, one of the highest
performing thermoplastic materials in the
world. The coating’s crystalline structure
provides exceptional scratch and wear
resistance, strength and durability,
especially at high temperatures leading to
longer-lasting components. The dielectric
properties of Vicote Coatings ensure
even temperature distribution with no
hot spots, fast heating, and high energy
density. The result is faster, more accurate
operating cycles and a reduction in energy
consumption by 20%.
“Another key aspect of our technology
is that it is processed at low temperatures,
well below the 850°C (1,076°F) required
to process glass-frit based thick-films. This
enables the use of new substrates and
reduced manufacturing costs,” explained
Mr Talalla. “To our knowledge, we have
the only high performing thick-film heating
technology on aluminium available today.”
By using aluminium, the heating
solution is lightweight and offers superior
thermal conductivity thereby delivering
more heat, more efficiently to its intended
target. “Datec is enabling the next
generation of products for the consumer,
medical, semiconductor, aerospace, and
automotive heating markets,” added
Mr Talalla.
Datec Coating Corporation, located in
Mississauga, Ontario, is an innovative
high-tech materials company providing
unique heating solutions and coatings
for high performance products. Datec’s
operating philosophy is to build a true
partnership with customers and partners
from concept development to product
design and manufacturing.
Datec Coating Corporation – Canada
Email:
Website:
Website:
Vicote® coatings enables ultra-fast
aluminium thick-film heater technology
The Emmedi polyethylene coating equipment