Reliant’s Extensive Materials Expertise

There’s never been a better time to investigate working with a composite materials manufacturer. Lowering the price per finished part, reducing part weight and creating savings for consumers in areas such as fuel economy are all possible with the right experience and the correct materials.

Each composite material has unique strengths and drawbacks. Choosing the best material for your applications is not always easy. With Reliant Worldwide Plastics, our partners can explore creating solutions that are injection molded from more than half a dozen different cutting-edge materials. What are these materials?

PEEK:

Short for “polyether[BM1] etherketone,” PEEK thermoplastics offer high-performance characteristics across many applications. Highly resistant to moisture, an excellent insulator, and chemically resistant, PEEK is a valuable resource for applications in the oil and gas, aerospace, automotive, and marine industries and other high-tech scenarios. Due to its high heat tolerance (in excess of 300° Celsius) and[BM2]  chemical resistance[BM3]  and inherent lubricity, it is an ideal resin for lighter-weight components that would typically be made of metal.

PPS:

Polyphenylene Sulfide, a semi-crystalline thermoplastic with outstanding chemical and temperature resistance. Inherent flame retardancy and excellent electrical characteristics makes PPS idea for electronic connectors and housing applications. PPS boasts the broadest resistance to aggressive and corrosive chemical available in a plastic. Inert to steam, strong bases, fuels and acids to 200°C. PPS is also available in a FDA-approved grade and is USDA

ULTEM®/PEI: ULTEM®

Polyetherimide resins are incredibly strong and durable in high-temperature applications. Its ability to withstand repetitive high-temperature cycles make it an ideal polymer for defense and aerospace, where flame resistance and low smoke and tox emission is critical, as well as medical sector applications, in which autoclave sterilization is common. ULTEM®/PEI does not fail under these conditions even after repeated exposure to high temperatures which could cause failure in other thermoplastic components.

FST:

Short for “flame, smoke, and toxicity,” thermoplastic resins that qualify for the FST label feature a chemical makeup that confers critical safety benefits. In interior passenger-facing applications in transportation, such as in airplanes or subway cars, resins that form seats and other components must be able to withstand fire without allowing their organic polymers to release excessive amounts of toxic smoke.

IXEF 1521:

A 50% glass-reinforced polyarylamide resin, IXEF 1521 is a strong, very stiff material that also exhibits high flow properties that are ideal for the formation of very thin wall components. Known for the glossy, highly cosmetic finished parts that IXEF produces – unlike most other glass filled materials that typically have a rougher low cosmetic finish, IXEF 1521 is a tricky material that not all injection molders can handle. RWP understands how to best leverage this material’s properties for any project.

Complēt™

A family of carbon and glass polymers by PlastiComp, this material exhibits a very high strength-to-weight ratio. The Complēt™ composite range is one of the best solutions for metal replacement and lightweighting projects. Long fiber products such as these can reduce a component’s weight by nearly half compared to a comparable all-metal assembly.

Other Carbon- and Glass-Filled Polymers:

We’re adept at working with all these materials and many other types of carbon-filled or glass-filled resin. Fiber reinforced resins are on the cutting edge of the industry today, and we understand how to approach fabrication to produce long-lasting and cost-effective components and tooling.

Our versatility and experience in this area make Reliant Worldwide Plastics the ideal partner for redesigning and lightweighting your existing components.

RELIANT-LITE Advanced Overmolding for Custom Composites

Despite their cutting-edge nature, composites are not the ideal solution for every application. Using epoxy as a binding agent often means that some composites are only as strong as the glue they use. In high-stress, high-use environments, repetitive strain may cause the delamination and eventual failure of thermoset composite materials. Such a failure point negates many of their initial material advantages and demands a better solution. 

To address these concerns, Reliant has created and patented our unique Homogeneous Connective Technology (HCT), now available as RELIANT-LITE®.

HCT bypasses the typical concerns surrounding delamination by overmolding thermoplastic carbon fiber substructures with a unique process using a chemically-compatible material. During the manufacturing process, this material forms an intrinsically strong chemical bond with the substrate material, forging the two pieces into one.

This process allows for additional load-bearing capabilities while extending part longevity, and the overmolding process also enables the creation of an aesthetically pleasing exterior. Color and texture are both within our control using the HCT process.

Ask us today about how RELIANT-LITE® can deliver exceptional results for metal-to-plastic conversion projects in the advanced composites industry.