ROJ Electrotex Offers Braking Cone Made With Victrexs Thermoplastic APTIV&reg； Film

Italy-based ROJ Electrotex — a manufacturer of weft insertion accessories — in partnership with Germany-based Victrex Polymer Solutions — a producer of high-performance polyaryletherketones — has developed a thermoformed braking cone to replace the traditional metal cone on textile weft feeders. The new cones, made using Victrex's thermoplastic APTIV® film made from VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer, exhibit improved braking consistency and structural integrity compared with metal cones, according to the company.

"Previously, the brake cones were produced by using a metal cone placed on rubber supports but ROJ found the mechanical decay of the rubber component was unacceptable and the metal cone created an inconsistent braking performance," said Cesare Brovarone, aeronautical engineer, ROJ Electrotex.

"Brake consistency is a key feature, as it adjusts and maintains the optimum tension of the weft which the weft feeder provides to the loom at the same level," he continued. "It also allows a more consistent yarn tension at every desirable tension level, while the tension depends on the pressure applied by the APTIV film cone on the weft feeder yarn running surface, thereby eliminating defects in the cloth."

The cones are produced using high-pressure forming technology developed by Germany-based Niebling HDVF Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, and are made using one of three different thicknesses of APTIV film, depending on the required tension and weft characteristics. ROJ Electrotex plans to apply for a patent for the structure and the use of APTIV films in that application.

According to Victrex, the APTIV films offer high temperature performance, mechanical strength, chemical resistance, electrical insulation, wear and abrasion resistance, purity, radiation resistance and low moisture absorption.

Textile World