wiredinUSA May 2012

INDEX

Fasteners for lightweight construction

products are especially suitable for joining magnesium components exposed to thermal stress and corrosion stress. Unlike steel screws, which require over- dimension head bearing areas when joining magnesium components, standard dimensions are sufficient with the Alufast fasteners. Compounding and extrusion specialist Coperion, of Germany, has made several improvements to its STS compounder series. The STS 96 advanced compounder with 96 mm diameter twin screws is equipped with a new STS die head and a twin screw side feeder. This machine configuration is ideal for the compounding of engineering or biodegradable polymers and cable compounds. Typical applications for the STS 35 advanced are the development of products and processes in the laboratory and the production of a wide diversity of polymer compounds in small batches, such as color masterbatches. The STS advanced compounders cover all standard applications in the compounding of plastics. The modular design of the screw barrels and the screw elements permit process lengths of 24 to 68 D. Featuring five different machine sizes, the STS advanced series makes production throughputs of up to 3,800kg/hour possible, depending on the actual compounding application. Improved compounder

Alufast ® aluminum screws from Arnold Umformtechnik are designed for joining lightweight magnesium components, and where material pairs are exposed to thermal stress, they are said to significantly improve the security of threaded fastener joints. The aluminum screws weigh only a third of the equivalent steel screws. Particularly with large volumes the weight savings can amount to the equivalent of several metric tons of steel per year.

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The type 6056 aluminum alloy used for Alufast fasteners has a proven track record of durability for joining magnesium components with threaded fasteners. The Alufast product line has good characteristics for thermal expansion, corrosion resistance and recycling, while fulfilling stringent requirements for retention of clamping force, thermal stability and weight reduction. Alufast ®

TECHNOLOGY

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