Alternative Energy
Plastics play an important role in the production of solar, wind, wave, biofuels, geothermal and
hydrogen equipment components.
Environmental and Safety
Considering the total carbon footprint, including costs of raw materials, manufacture, transport,
fabricate, install, maintain, plastics compare favorably with more traditional materials. Also, plastics
are safer to handle and install. When you consider that most plastics are readily recyclable, they can
become the most environmentally responsible and safest choice for many demanding alternative energy
applications.
Applications
- Films for solar collectors
- Solar array pivot bearings
- Thrust washers
- Electrical insulators
- Housings/shrouds
- Rotational bearings, bushings
- Equipment braces
- Storage tanks
- Pipe, valves, fittings
- Standoff heat insulators
- Tubing
Advantages May Include
- Lightweight for more efficient
operations
- Ease of fabrication
- Easy to install/replace
- Recyclable
- Corrosion and chemical resistant
- Abrasion resistant
- Impact and fatigue resistant
- Stiffness
- Excellent bearing and wear
performance
- Low moisture absorption
- Weatherability
- Low creep
- Low warpage
- Solid color, eliminating painting
Materials
- Acetal (POM)
- Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
- ABS/Polycarbonate
- Long Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics (LFRT)
- Nylon (PA)
- Polyamideimide (PAI)
- Polybutylene (PBT)
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
- Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polyurethane (PUR)
