What is it about?
Flexible and semi-rigid heat-shrinkable tubes (HSTs) have been used in thousands of application, and here rigid HSTs are reported for the first time. These rigid HSTs are recyclable, different from the trational HSTs that can be used only once in most cases.
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Why is it important?
HSTs have been widely used in automobiles, electronics, communications, aircrafts, petroleum, aerospace and so on. The polyimide heat-shrinkable tubes (PIHST) with different Tss from about 180 to 330 °C can extend the application areas of HSTs, as high temperature HSTs are still lacking.The functionality of PIHST as reducer coupling can fix subjects that are thousands of times heavier than itself, which is especially useful for some delicate or elaborate equipments since supporting frames can be spared.
Perspectives
With their unique characteristics, the new generation of recyclable and rigid PIHSTs will supply technical solutions to many engineering problems, and in some cases may create a new market.
Dr Xinli Xiao
Harbin Institute of Technology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Rigid High Temperature Heat-Shrinkable Polyimide Tubes with Functionality as Reducer Couplings, Scientific Reports, March 2017, Nature,
DOI: 10.1038/srep44936.
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