Plastic replaces sheet steel in certain
applications
Sheet steel, a basic component in many construction
projects is becoming less popular, due to improvements in the durability
of new types of plastic.
Luran S, manufactured by BASF Chemical Company,
is an acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate copolymer that resists weathering,
aging and discoloration when exposed to extreme conditions. Because
of these characteristics, Luran S is replacing sheet steel in construction
projects. 
When used in construction, small distributor boxes
are particularly susceptible to scratches and dents on the housing.
But it is precisely in the construction sector that such damage
cannot be avoided and it is quite noticeable on the sheet steel
structures that have been used up until now.
One company making the switch is F-tronic, which
manufactures electric installation equipment. It is now using Luran
S in its distributor boxes.
"We need an impact-resistant and UV-stable
material. With Luran S, we can now market doors and frames for these
distributor boxes in a version that is vandalism-proof," explains
Winfried Fohs, managing director at F-tronic, "So far, a lot
is still made of sheet steel but even more will be made of plastic
in the future."
Test series with other impact resistant plastics
have demonstrated that BASF's ASA is a superior material, especially
in terms of its chemical resistance. Moreover, this material fulfilled
all of the requirements in terms of dimensional stability, surface
quality and stress cracking resistance. |
