Chemical Engineering July 2015 - 21

Lehvoss
Figure 2: The Luvocom 8000 product line
combines thermoplastics such as PEEK, PPS or
PA with special nano-additives to produce tribologically
modified materials with higher wear
resistance, while maintaining a low coefficient
of friction
steam and high temperatures.
According to Dougherty, the solution
for many industrial applications
can be found in new grades and formulations
of polyether ether ketone
(PEEK) polymer, which was already
well known as a high-temperature
polymer with great mechanical properties
and processability.
New formulations of Victrex's PEEK
polymer are currently being employed
in the food processing industry. In
these applications, the reformulated
Victrex PEEK 90gl30BlK Eu (Figure
1) was introduced to meet the current
requirements of both American
and European regulatory authorities
for direct-food-contact applications,
while providing the temperature performance
and chemical and steam
resistance that PEEK is known for, as
well as wear resistance without lubrication.
Typical applications for the reformulated
food-friendly polymer include
machinery cleaning equipment, conveyor
belt chains, espresso machines,
manufacturing equipment bushings
and components for aseptic processing
and packaging equipment.
And, in general industrial applications
that require even greater service
life, lower component weight and
lower costs, Dougherty says his company
now provides Victrex Wg Polymers.
This recently developed material
offers excellent wear rates, as
well as reduced and very stable coefficient
of friction to meet requirements
for wear in applications with higher
speeds and loads. The polymer can
be processed into components such
as bushings, thrust washers, bearing
cages, seals and gaskets, bearing retainers,
seal rings and gears.
lehvoss North America, llC (Pawcatuck,
Conn.; www.lehvossllc.com)
recently introduced a new generation
of polytetrafluoroethylene- (PTFE)
modified compounds, called luvocom
XTF, in an effort to provide a
material that will reduce wear, yet still
be easy to process. " Adding PTFE to
PEEK is not a new development, but
previously the problem with doing this
was that the material was not always
easy to process because PEEK processes
at a very high temperature,
which in turn, causes PTFE to agglomerate
and disperse, eventually
leading to a certain amount of wear
for the finished part as the dispersion
causes the PTFE to break down
over time, " explains Bob Healy, sales
and business development manager,
with lehvoss. However, lehvoss has
developed a new technology that
has solved the dispersion and agglomeration
issues. " By optimizing
the processing technology and using
innovative raw materials, it is now
possible to achieve a reduction in
wear under high loads. "
Because of the chemical resistance
to hydrocarbons, this new generation
of polymer is finding use in the oil-andgas
industry where it provides better
mating, sealing surface and wear resistance
than previous options.
Another way lehvoss provides
high wear resistance and low coefficient
of friction is through the use
of nanoscale additives. Its luvocom
8000 product line combines thermoplastics
such as PEEK, polyphenylene
sulfide (PPS) or polyamide
(PA) with special nano-additives to
produce tribologically modified materials
with higher wear resistance,
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Chemical Engineering July 2015

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