Molded and extruded solutions
For molders of clear, optical grade face and eye protection products, Tenite™ cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and Eastman Tritan™ copolyester provide high-impact alternatives to PC. Both also provide excellent chemical resistance and offer processability and secondary processing advantages over both PC and heritage copolyesters, including PETG.
Processability advantages—Tenite™ CAP
Molders can use Tenite™ CAP to optimize injection molding efficiency, compared with PC and other polymers.
- Superior flow characteristics allow molding shields with thin walls (1 mm thickness) and long flow lengths.
- CAP maintains excellent clarity and optical properties while meeting the ANSI 87.1+ standard for eye protection.
- Eastman offers CAP in a number of different formulas and flows to meet special molding conditions and finished product requirements.
- The advantages of CAP can reduce material usage, cycle time, and cost for molders while improving wearer comfort.
Processability advantages—Eastman Tritan™ copolyester
- Parts can be molded from Tritan with less residual stress than with PC, so there is less risk of cracking, crazing, or failure—without annealing.
- Molded parts do not exhibit the stress whitening that can occur with polymers like impact-modified acrylic, acrylonitrile, and PVC.
- Molded parts do not exhibit many of the aberrations common with some polymers, helping to ensure better, more durable visual clarity.
- Excellent toughness and chemical resistance allow parts to withstand assembly stress and strains, including:
- Solvent and adhesive bonding
- Ultrasonic and laser welding
- Cold swaging
- Hot or cold bending
- Fastening with screws, rivets, and bolts
- Die punching and drilling without significant microcracking (Contact Eastman for drilling recommendations.)