Printronix, Inc., the medium and high speed printer manufacturer based in Irvine, CA, is using AURUM JRF3025 injection molded anti-rotation pads in its line of line matrix printers. AURUM, a thermoplastic polyimide manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Purchase, NY), is designed to withstand high-loads and high velocities at temperatures exceeding 500°F and can be injection molded into complex shapes to tight and consistent tolerances using standard equipment.

  The objective of the AURUM anti-rotation pad evaluation was to provide a cost-reduction and productivity improvement through injection molding and recycling over a compression molded and conventional polyimide component. Approximately 20 graphite and PTFE lubricated AURUM JFR3025 anti-rotation pads were machined from an AURUM stock shape and installed in printers by Printronix for 3000 hours of testing under the conditions listed below:

  According to Chuck Ransom, the lead engineer on the project at Printronix, the function of the anti-rotation pad is to provide a non-wearing surface to keep the printing mechanism an exact angular position while printing for the lifetime of the printer.

  After exhibiting outstanding wear resistance in the printer test, the AURUM anti-rotation pad was approved by Printronix and a commercial mold was designed and fabricated.

  Putnam Precision Molding (Putnam, CT) began injection molding the AURUM component on a commercial basis for Printronix in 1994. Injection molded AURUM JRF3025 anti-rotation pads were installed in life test printers which accumulated over 5,000 hours of operation. In addition to meeting Printronix' exacting performance standards, an approximate 50% cost savings was realized over the conventional, non-injection moldable polyimide.

  AURUM Thermoplastic Polyimide is utilized in a variety of other demanding applications such as high PV automotive transmission thrust washers and oil seal rings, wear and friction components for business machinery, compressor valve seats, jet engine components, power tool parts, and high purity components for semiconductor handling and manufacturing equipment. Properties of selected AURUM bearing and structural grades are provided in the table below.

  NTN, one of the world's largest bearings manufacturers, has begun supplying a leading power tool manufacturer with AURUM injection molded seal rings utilized in a pneumatic nail gun. AURUM, a thermoplastic polyimide manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Purchase, NY), is designed to withstand high-loads and high velocities at temperatures exceeding 500°F and can be injection molded into complex shapes to tight and consistent tolerances using standard equipment.

  After exhibiting extraordinary wear resistance during NTN's rigorous laboratory evaluations utilizing a state-of-the-art tribo-test apparatus, graphite and PTFE lubricated AURUM polyimide oil seal ring samples were injection molded and submitted to the power tool manufacturer where they were subjected to 200 continuous hours of pneumatic nail gun applications testing under the following conditions:

  The objective of the AURUM seal ring evaluation was to provide a cost-reduction and productivity improvement through injection molding and recycling over a compression molded and machined conventional polyimide seal ring. After exhibiting outstanding wear resistance and sealability in the applications test, the AURUM seal ring was approved by the power tool manufacturer and NTN began injection molding the AURUM component on a commercial basis in 1995. In addition to meeting NTN's exacting performance standards, an approximate 50% cost savings was realized over the conventional, non-injection moldable polyimide seal rings.

  AURUM Thermoplastic Polyimide is utilized in a variety of other demanding applications such as high PV automotive transmission thrust washers and oil seal rings, wear and friction components for business machinery, compressor valve seats, jet engine components, power tool parts, and high purity components for semiconductor handling and manufacturing equipment. Properties of selected AURUM bearing and structural grades are provided in the table below.

Unit

AURUM Bearing Grade

AURUM Structural Grade

AURUM Self-Lubricated
Bearing Grade

g/cc

1.38

1.66

1.43

psi

36,700

35,000

33,300

ksi

2,970

2,629

2,770

%

2%

3%

2%

ft-ld/in

2.2

1.6

1.4

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AURUM® Press Release Sections

• Automotive/Transmission (Released 7/7/98)
• Automotive/Engine (Released 7/94)
• Automotive/Viscous Fan Drive (Released 6/99)
• Business Machinery/Copiers (Released 11/5/97)
• Business Machinery/Printers (Released 1/97)
• Industrial (Released 4/96)
• Aerospace (Released 3/95)
• Electronics/Chip Tray (Released 7/99)