Materials
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High-performance, long-lasting technical materials
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Our equipment in POLYESTER

DS1

Glass-fibre reinforced polyamide (GRP)

Glass-fibre reinforced polyamide (GRP) is a material that combines the properties of polyamide with the benefits of glass fibre reinforcement. Here are some of the typical properties of GRP:

  • Résistance mécanique

    Excellent mechanical resistance

    Glass-fibre reinforcement gives polyamide superior mechanical strength, particularly in terms of impact and abrasion resistance, tensile strength, flexural strength and compressive strength. Industrial socket outlets can be exposed to harsh working conditions. GRP is a robust material suitable for a wide range of applications, reducing replacement and maintenance costs over the long term.

  • Lightweight

    Although GRP is very resistant, it remains relatively light compared to other materials, making it easier to install and handle industrial plug socket-outlets for applications requiring both strength and lightness.

  • Corrosion

    Corrosion resistance

    GRP is naturally resistant to corrosion, making it a wise choice in corrosive or humid environments where other materials may deteriorate more quickly.

  • High levels of electrical insulation

    Good electrical insulation is essential for user safety and protection against short circuits.

  • Resistance to extreme temperatures

    GRP can withstand both low and high temperatures, allowing it to be used in environments ranging from [-40°C to +60°C] without any special precautions. GRP also has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, which means it retains its shape and dimensions over a wide range of temperatures.

  • UV resistance (f1)

    If industrial plug socket-outlets are used outdoors or in environments exposed to UV rays, it is important that the material is resistant to degradation caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight.
    GRP retains its mechanical properties and colour even under prolonged UV exposure, making it ideal for outdoor use.

  • Chemical resistance

    In certain industrial environments, plug socket-outlets may be exposed to aggressive chemicals and cleaning agents. GRP is resistant to many chemicals, making it an appropriate choice for these applications.

  • Ease of manufacture

    GRP can be moulded into a variety of complex shapes, allowing the industrial plug socket-outlets to meet the specific needs of each application.

These properties make glass fibre reinforced polyamide a robust and versatile choice for industrial plug and socket-outlets, offering strength, longevity, and electrical safety.

Our metal equipment

Zamak

Zamak is an alloy of zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper. Zamak has a relatively low melting point compared with other metals and is easy to machine, which facilitates the manufacturing process and allows complex shapes to be produced with extremely fine details and thicknesses. The surface appearance depends on the moulding and the finish: rough, paint, or coated against corrosion.

  • Résistance mécanique

    Excellent mechanical resistance

    Zamak offers great mechanical strength, which is crucial for industrial plug socket-outlets that may be subjected to significant stress during use. Good tensile strength, impact resistance and wear resistance. Good damping capacity. Good dimensional stability.

  • Corrosion

    Corrosion resistance

    Thanks to its chemical composition, Zamak is resistant to corrosion and ensures the durability of industrial plug socket-outlets, especially in environments where they may be exposed to humidity or corrosive chemicals.

  • Environment

    Good resistance to petrol, alcohols, oils and mineral lubricants. Can withstand temperatures up to 200°C.

  • These characteristics make Zamak a suitable material for industrial plug socket-outlets, offering a combination of strength, longevity, ease of manufacture, and cost-effectiveness.

Copper-free aluminium

Aluminium is a material that allows great freedom in the design of parts, combining lightness, strength and resistance in all operating environments. The surface appearance depends on the casting and finish: anodising, paint, etc.

  • aluminium

    Lightweight

    Aluminium is a lightweight material, making it easy to handle and install plug socket-outlets, especially in industrial environments where a lot of equipment may be moved or installed frequently.

  • Corrosion

    Corrosion resistance

    Aluminium has good corrosion resistance, which is important to ensure the longevity of plug socket-outlets, particularly in industrial environments where they may be exposed to humidity, chemicals or other corrosive agents.

  • Heat dissipation

    Aluminium has good thermal conductivity, which means it can effectively dissipate the heat generated during plug socket-outlet use, helping to prevent overheating.

  • Ease of manufacture

    Aluminium is relatively easy to shape and machine, making it easy to manufacture industrial plug socket-outlets with a variety of shapes and designs, to meet the specific needs of industrial applications.

  • Taking these characteristics into account, aluminium offers a combination of performance, longevity and cost-effectiveness. It can withstand temperatures of up to 400°C under certain conditions.

Contacts

The choice of contact material is fundamental. It must:

  • Have the lowest possible contact resistance in order to avoid the release of heat and, a fortiori, deterioration of the contact
  • Be sufficiently solid to offer a long time constant and high thermal inertia
  • Maintain its electrical and mechanical properties for a long time, even in the event of accidental overheating, which could lead to accelerated oxidation (corrosion)
  • Withstand electrical cut-off tests and the generation of electric arcs.

The material that best meets all the criteria is silver-nickel alloy. It is commonly used by all electrical switch manufacturers and has therefore been selected for DECONTACTOR™ to guarantee the best electrical conduction performance in operation and switching.

Screws and bolts

All our screws are made from stainless steel = a ferrous alloy containing more than 12% chromium.
This is a class of material with very good mechanical properties and resistance to a wide range of corrosive environments within extended temperature limits.

Surface treatments

Anodising

Goal: Improve corrosion resistance. Aluminium is coated on the surface with a continuous film of oxide (Al2O3), which provides natural resistance to corrosion.

Silver plating

Goal: Improve electrical conductivity (by protecting against corrosion) and the appearance of contacts. Silver plating is the deposition of a layer of silver on a substrate. Silver is the material with the lowest electrical...

resistance and its performance varies little over time. Silver plating therefore protects against corrosion and improves electrical conductivity.

Tinning

Goal: Improve electrical conductivity (by protecting against corrosion) and the appearance of contacts…

Chrome plating

Goal: Improve appearance. Chromium plating is the application of a layer of chrome to a substrate.
Decorative chrome plating is used to give a shiny, uniform appearance. It can also improve the mechanical properties of the...

surface, increasing wear resistance. Chromium plating can improve corrosion resistance.

Paint

Goal: Improve corrosion resistance, enhance appearance and, where appropriate, provide information (color). Paint is an organic coating. It is applied in several layers to ensure its resistance and performance against corrosion:...

primary, intermediate and top coats. Paint provides a barrier effect by resisting the diffusion of water, ions and oxygen through the paint film to the substrate. There are also other modes of action: cathodic protection and inhibition. Thickness is relatively high (for surface treatments): 200-800 μm.

JS500

Goal: To improve corrosion resistance. The JS 500 treatment is an electrolytic zinc coating to which a Finigard 400 finish is added. Zinc plating is the deposition of a layer of zinc on a substrate. Zinc has a very low corrosion...

potential and therefore oxidises instead of the material it protects. It also corrodes relatively slowly. This is a major advantage when protecting steel, which corrodes much more quickly. FINIGARD finish is an organo-mineral finish (free from hexavalent chromium) that protects passivation on zinc and zinc alloys (even after thermal shock at 120°C). The finish also provides colour and a better appearance. For MARECHAL® products, JS500 is used on zamak.

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