Brass and copper pipes and fittings are being replaced by plastic alternatives in many applications. For drinking water, the materials must meet the highest of regulatory standards. DOMO Engineering Plastics’ Technyl® PA 6.6 and Technyl® eXten PA 6.10 materials provide an effective alternative to brass, copper and specialty polymers, bringing excellent mechanical performance while increasing processability. Some of the key applications include water meters, pumps and valves, as well as fittings, hoses and solenoid valves in food contact applications like coffee machines.
Other water management systems include non-drinking water applications, with less stringent regulations, such as valves, fittings, manifolds, heat exchanger parts and circulation pumps for boilers that are used in central and solar heating systems. Here, the Technyl® Blue glycol resistant range offers a selection of thermal management solutions designed for the heating industry.
Wise choice
The water management systems sector is opting for polyamide (PA) over other materials, including traditional metals, for heating and domestic water supply for a range of reasons. PA has a number of advantages, including being lead-free and offering better chemical resistance against certain substances. It’s also lighter weight, makes automated manufacturing processes with lower production costs possible, and very complex designs can be realized. In addition, PA 6.10 provides superior weldline strength in water applications compared to high-performance plastics.
Looking beyond metal, in particular, Technyl® eXten PA6.10 has a number of important advantages over high-performance plastics, especially with regards to processing. These include lower scrap rate, lower tooling and processing costs, with more parts fit for purpose. Compared to other specialty materials, Technyl® solutions require a lower mold temperature and which can be cooled by water, meaning less energy used.
What really differentiates the Technyl® value proposition from the competition, however, is the complete set of end-to-end services offered to customers for project development. This includes a broad range of advanced testing facilities, including some specifically dedicated to water management systems.
Customer connection
“We have test facilities that are unique in the market,” says Joachim Folz, New Business Development Manager, DOMO Engineering Plastics. “Going well beyond standard test equipment, we have developed our own testing devices and methodology with customers. Our customers can benefit from our test bench, including accelerated testing to assess their parts performance. We also have a sophisticated tool for simulations, including anisotropic simulation, beyond standard methods. We actively participate in the parts creation process with OEMs and their subcontractors, as well as testing, simulation and prototyping.”
DOMO Chemicals is one of the few material suppliers worldwide to offer full European and American certification for its portfolio of water management system materials, including ACS, WRAS, KTW, W270, and NSF-61. Customers in any industry involving water and food contact can design and develop their components safely and freely with confidence using DOMO Technyl® PA 6.6 and Technyl® eXten. They can also rely on HUB by Technyl®, the unique platform that connects customer needs with dedicated expertise to support innovation and accelerate time-to-market.