Providing solutions
Forward-looking manufacturers in today’s eyewear and face protection market demand a total-solutions perspective and total-capability experience from material providers.
Eastman combines its technical expertise and leadership with materials that offer unmatched technical attributes for fabricators and molders.
| Attribute/benefit | Tenite cellulose acetate | Tenite cellulose propionate (CAP) | Eastman Tritan copolyester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact strength | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent | Excellent | Very good |
| Optical clarity | Excellent | Very good | Very good |
| Heat resistance | Good | Very good | Very good |
| Scratch resistance | Excellent | Very good | Good |
| Tintability | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Flowability | Good | Excellent | Good |
| Extrusion processability | Excellent | Good | Very good |
| Edges can be polished | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Use with antifog and anti-scratch coatings | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Processability advantages
Spartech ULTRATUF FS sheet, made using Eastman Tritan copolyester, provides many processability advantages, including:
- Easier to fabricate than PC, requiring less shear-strength force for die cutting
- Lower density than PC, allowing more product per unit of resin
- Saves energy and time because Tritan thermoforms at a lower temperature than PC and doesn't require drying before thermoforming
- Capable of being laser cut, routed, welded, drilled, die punched, and bent hot or cold
- Can be joined by screws, rivets or bolts
- Can be edge polished with commercial edge-finishing equipment, sanding, solvents, flame polishing or buffing
- Can be coated to provide antifog and anti-scratch performance.
Advantages of Tenite CAP
Molders can use Tenite CAP to optimize injection molding efficiency better than PC and other polymers. The processability advantages of Tenite CAP include:
- Superior flow characteristics allow molding shields with thin walls (1 mm thickness) and long flow lengths.
- CAP maintains excellent clarity and optical properties while meeting the ANSI 87.1+ standard for eye protection.
- CAP is offered in many formulas and flows to meet special molding conditions and finished product requirements.
- CAP can reduce material usage, cycle time and cost for molders while improving wearer comfort.
Advantages of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester
- Parts can be molded from Tritan with less residual stress than with PC, so there is less risk of cracking, crazing or failure — and no annealing.
- Molded parts do not exhibit the stress whitening that can occur with polymers like impact-modified acrylic, acrylonitrile and PVC.
- Molded parts do not exhibit many of the aberrations common with some polymers, helping to ensure better, more durable visual clarity.
- Excellent toughness and chemical resistance allow parts to withstand assembly stress and strains, including:
- Solvent and adhesive bonding
- Ultrasonic and laser welding
- Cold swaging
- Hot or cold bending
- Fastening with screws, rivets and bolts
- Die punching and drilling without significant microcracking (contact us for drilling recommendations)