German compounder and distributor Lehmann & Voss (Hamburg; www.lehvoss.de/eng) is introducing a range of polymers lubricated with an advanced PTFE formulation. The company said the high performance compounds, branded “Luvocom” XTF, provide increased wear resistance, especially at high loads, compared with standard PTFE formulations. “By substituting standard PTFE additives with our proprietary lubricant and by optimising our processing technology, we have been able to substantially elevate wear resistance performance,” said Thomas Collet of Lehmann & Voss’ product management team. The new technology is opening up opportunities in automotive, industrial and oil and gas market applications, as well as high precision machined components via stock shapes, he added.

The new compounds are designed to provide a low coefficient of friction while preserving mechanical performance. Benefits include short running-in behaviour and less deposition in tool cavities during injection moulding. “OEMs like to have a short running-in phase,” remarked Collet. “Otherwise their customers can experience a major disruption, or even a failure, in a dynamic system.”

Lehmann & Voss said the first compounds in the Luvocom XTF series are based on PEEK polymer, and other polymer formulations are in development. The PEEK-based Luvocom 1105-9098/XTF and 1105-9182/XTF exhibit 50% less wear than unreinforced PEEK and 80% less than PEEK modified with 15% standard PTFE, the company added.