Plastic composite compression springs help industry bounce back

Increasingly, engineers are seeing the benefits of plastic spring technology from the recently introduced LeeP™ Plastic Composite Series, says Lee Spring. They provide designers with non-magnetic, non-corrosive and chemically inert properties in a lightweight package, and the manufacturer states that they are well suited to applications in areas of medical device manufacturing, pharmaceutical equipment, aerospace and lightweight instrumentation.

The LeeP™ Plastic Composite Series is said to combine the strength of metal springs with the attributes of high performing engineered thermoplastics – in this case, Ultem PEI (polyetherimide) resin. According too Lee Spring, the material has "excellent thermal stability and electrical insulation properties while being non-contaminating". Further, they also have low flammability and are recyclable in compliance with global regulations including RoHS and REACH.

LeeP™ Plastic Composite Springs are stocked in a variety of standard sizes, each available in a range of strengths formulated from different Ultem resins. The five increasing strengths are easily identifiable by distinct colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green and Violet. The company says that it has the technology to provide Custom LeeP™ Compression Springs to meet the most exacting specifications.

These plastic compression springs are said to offer a high strength to weight ratio that optimises performance whilst reducing mass. Lee Spring points out that they also have excellent stability of physical and mechanical properties at elevated temperatures up to 170°Celsius too. High corrosion resistance and are general compatibility with many chemicals (including strong acids, weak bases, aromatics, and ketones) are also cited as useful attributes. Their non-magnetic material does not interfere with imaging and other Ferro-sensitive technologies, making them suitable for non-conductive applications. The inert and non-contaminating plastic composite protects the purity of the products the springs come in contact with. 

FasteningandBonding.net readers can discover more about LeeP plastic composite springs here.