|
Click here to buy Tufnol.Tufnol is an engineering plastic that is predominantly a laminated resin product that does have an incredibly diverse array of applications. There are approximately forty two grades of Tufnol products in the range that offer almost limitless application diversity. In the early days, Tufnol became famous for producing excellent electrical insulation products which resembled bakelite, these products solved many problems for the electrical engineering industry. Tufnol also make excellent mechanical grade materials, these products are very tough and are much more rigid than most other plastics. Most of the basic laminated Tufnol products are a mixture of either high quality paper or fabric cloth that is impregnated with phenolic resin which is heated under extreme pressure and allowed to cure, although this process is highly labour intensive, it does offer a higher quality product as each of the individual layers can be alternated through ninety degrees which helps with strength and material stability and flatness. Other products within the Tufnol range have an alternative resin structure such as epoxy or silicone, these resins allow Tufnol Sheet to withstand higher temperatures and provide a higher resistance. The majority of Tufnol Sheet is produced in sizes 1220mm x 1220mm but can be ordered specially in a larger size. Three of the most popular grades of Tufnol are IP/13, Kite and Whale. These grades give a good performance at a very competitive price.
IP/13 Tufnol
This grade is one of Tufnol's basic grades and is often described as a general purpose material. IP/13 Tufnol is a dark brown sheet that is excellent for low voltage electrical applications and is often used to produce jigs and fixtures such as router templates. This Tufnol grade is not designed for high wear applications but is more robust than the Kite grade and can be drilled or machined quite easily.
Kite Tufnol
This grade is specifically designed for higher voltage electrical applications and as such does perform very well. Kite Tufnol does machine and drill very well but is less robust than the IP/13 grade. Kite Tufnol is also a dark brown colour and available in thicknesses from 0.8mm up to 25mm thick.
Whale Tufnol
This grade is designed as an engineering grade or a Tufnol that is suitable for mechanical applications. Whale Tufnol has a very stable construction and is an excellent wear product often chosen for wear blocks and gears. It is made from many layers of laminated cotton fabric which are compressed to form a very strong and tough engineering plastic. Whale Tufnol is also good in some electrical applications where a combination is required. Whale Tufnol is a light brown or tan colour and thicknesses range from less than 1mm up to 120mm thick. Tufnol can produce thicker material but this would be to special order. Due to the construction of Tufnol, gears can only be produced from the sheet grades and not from rod. Because Tufnol is made using resins, they offer good moisture resistance and Whale Tufnol is acceptable for above waterline marine applications.
|