Morgan Advanced Materials (MTC) GBC Materials has launched new extruded micro-sized rods and tubes in high purity Alumina and Steatite for medical, aerospace, electronics and appliance applications. There is increasing demand for smaller components and the intricate parts are extremely cost-effective compared to components produced by traditional machining.
MTC GBC Materials has a state-of-the-art vertical hydraulic piston extruder and can now manufacture micro-sized rods and tubes in a variety of sizes and tolerances to meet customer requirements. The extruded rods range from 0.6mm to 10mm in diameter and up to 450mm in length, which is significantly longer than those obtained through a pressing process. They are available as solid rod, single-hole or multi-hole geometry parts and can be manufactured in high volume. They can be delivered in a short lead time of three to six weeks.
A variety of materials are offered. Rods and tubes extruded from 96% to 99.8% pure Alumina provide excellent insulating properties for use in extreme temperatures up to 1760°C and corrosive environments. Those made from 99.8% pure Alumina are especially well suited for aerospace applications where there are stringent trace element certification requirements.
Steatite ceramic has reasonable heat shock qualities and good electrical insulation. With good mechanical and insulation qualities, extruded Steatite tubes and rods are ideal for resistor tubes, surge arrestors, standoffs, spacers, terminal blocks and bushings.
"We have expanded our capabilities to produce micro-sized extruded parts in response to our customers' need for a cost effective way of producing extremely small parts at high volume," said Sharon Johnson, MTC GBC Material's general manager. "With our new extrusion capabilities, we can now produce high performance small notched rods used in the production of ceramic cores in the aerospace market, custom tubing for medical instruments and measuring apparatus, and a range of resistor tubes, capacitor sleeves, insulating tubes, bushings and thermocouple tubes for the electrical and appliance market."