This technology complements Integran’s core nanocrystalline Nanovate™ electrodeposited structural metallisation technology.
“At Integran, we have developed world class adhesion processes for most base materials, but there are always a few that prove to be a challenge," says Dr Jon McCrea, R&D Manager at Integran. "Intebond is a game changer as it allows us to apply our Nanovate structural metal to almost anything.”
Integran claims that the Intebond technology results in extremely high metal-to-polymer adhesion strength (peel and pull strength), which has been demonstrated on carbon fibre reinforced thermosets as well as a host of thermoplastics.
Although Integran has existing processes for directly metallising high stiffness thermoplastics such as polyether ether ketones (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfides (PPS) and polyetherimides (PEI), Intebond provides another option for plastics that are difficult to metalise. The Intebond provides high metal adhesion to these materials, but also effectively serves as a load transfer buffer between the underlying polymer and its structural exoskeleton resulting in augmented structural and functional performance properties in the form of weight-optimised metal-polymer hybrids.
High performance polymers are commonly used in applications requiring high stiffness-to-weight materials of construction. In many cases, a thin structural cladding layer of high strength Nanovate metal to the outer surface of the polymer is an attractive way to provide critical metallic characteristics such as damage tolerance, electrical conductivity, and retention of design properties after exposure to elevated temperatures.
The Intebond adhesion technology allows for further penetration of Integran’s advanced Nanovate nanometal-polymer hybrids in a wide array of industries and applications in the aerospace, defence, sporting goods, medical, and consumer electronics sectors.
