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From:
Plymouth Extruded Shapes
Plymouth Tube Co., U.S.A.
(800) 323-9506
For Immediate Release
PLYMOUTH CITES GROWING TREND TOWARD INVAR NEAR-NET
EXTRUSIONS FOR ADVANCED COMPOSITE COMPONENT TOOLING
WARRENVILLE, IL — According to Plymouth Tube Company, the use of near-net extruded shapes of Invar, a specialized nickel alloy, is a growing trend in aerospace composite structures manufacturing. The company reports that it is now producing custom-designed extruded shapes in Invar-36® at its manufacturing facility in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The extrusions have primary use as tooling components in the production of advanced composite aerospace structures. But they can also be used by various industries that are involved in composites.
A unique combination of durability and a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) make Invar-36 the ideal choice for aerospace manufacturers that seek to minimize thermal expansion mismatch, or the type of warpage that occurs between disparate materials and molds during the curing process. Regarding the trend towards specifying Invar, Plymouth marketing manager, Dennis Gudgel, observes: "Although Invar-36 is not a new material, its specification for aerospace applications, such as tools for aircraft control parts and primary structural members, is in a new growth phase because of increased acceptance of advanced composites by aerospace manufacturers. By using Invar-36 tooling components for the composite -- for instance, epoxy resin reinforced with embedded carbon fibers -- they have found that warpage can be minimized. This provides measurable performance and reliability improvements, especially in the production of mated or precision-fit parts."
Because of its low CTE, Invar-36 is also ideal for cryogenic applications (such as space vehicle components), or as a component for equipment that handles liquified natural gas. It is also widely used in industrial processes where a wide range of temperature extremes is experienced. The typical mechanical properties of Invar-36 are: Tensile Strength - 448 MPa (65 ksi); Yield Strength - 276 MPa (40 ksi); 65% Reduction in area; 35% Elongation in 2-inches (50.8 mm); and 70 Rockwell Hardness B.
PLYMOUTH INVAR EXTRUSIONS ADD ONE
Plymouth provides Invar-36 extrusions in a variety of design shapes, including angles, hollow shapes, channels and tees. Parts must have a maximum cross-section design that fits within a six-inch diameter circle. Maximum lengths depends on the configuration, but an average maximum length is about 30 feet. Plymouth's near-net extrusion process offers significant cost, labor, and material savings over machined and welded tools from plate and bar. The company is certified to ISO 9002 and TUV standards.
For more information on near-net extrusion of Invar-36, please contact the knowledgeable sales staff at Plymouth Extruded Shapes, Plymouth Tube Co., 29W150 Warrenville Road, Warrenville, Illinois 60555. Telephone: 800-323-9506 (in U.S.), or 630-393-3550. FAX: 630-393-3552.
Plymouth Tube Company is an international manufacturer of specialty steel and aluminum tubing, with plants in the U.S., the U.K. and Mexico. Plymouth Extruded Shapes produces a wide array of hollow products and near-net extruded solid shapes in carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, nickel alloy and titanium. Product applications include structural metal parts such as engine components and pylons; industrial valve bodies and fittings; press brake tools and other machine tool accessories; architectural elements such as elevator sills; and a wide variety of parts used in the manufacture of pulp and paper, food, chemicals and petrochemicals. Plymouth products are also used in various types of machinery and equipment for the transportation and wast management industries.
Invar-36 is a trademark of Carpenter Technology Corporation.
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