New Thermoplastics Business Purchases Cyclic Resin Patents From GE
Cyclics Corp. (Schenectady, NY) has agreed to purchase almost 50 US and foreign patents covering cyclic compositions of polycarbonate, polyarylate, and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) from General Electric Co. (Fairfield, CT). These cyclic thermoplastics offer the processing advantages of a thermoset while retaining the material properties of a thermoplastic, enabling the company to produce thermoplastic structural composites. Thermoplastic composites could be used in a wide variety of applications, from the production of sporting goods to the repair of offshore oil rigs.
About The Resins (Back to Top)
The cyclics process reactively, like a thermoset resin, but retain thermoplastic properties in their final state. The low initial viscosity allows the resins to be mixed thoroughly with fiber reinforcements to create thermoplastic composites. Among the benefits of a thermoplastic composite are: the ability to recycle parts, increased damage tolerance, the ability to thermoform and weld to like thermoplastics, and ease of repair.
The reaction to polymerize cyclic forms of PBT is quick—from a few seconds to a few minutes depending upon the catalyst—without producing an exotherm. Overall processing speed is even faster, because parts can be taken out of the mold without first cooling the mold. In addition, choosing different initiators can yield a variety of properties in the resulting thermoplastic polymer, including green strength, molecular weight, modulus, melt viscosity, impact, and solvent resistance.
Applications (Back to Top)
Everything from bicycle frames to bridges could benefit from the damage tolerance of a thermoplastic matrix. Offshore oil rigs and shipping containers could be effectively repaired when damaged. Hockey stick blades could be thermoformed to individual preferences. Lightweight, strong, and recyclable automotive parts could also be created.
With water-like viscosity, these cyclic materials can also wet-out continuous fibers while achieving high fiber volumes. With cyclic materials, products such as pre-impregnated yarns or fabrics, sheet-molding material, flat blanks, and long fiber compounds can be made more cost-effectively.
Cyclics Corp. is a start-up business formed to commercialize cyclic thermoplastics, a plastic technology based on technology developed and patented by GE.
For more information, call Cyclics Corp. at 518-346-2209.