Tuesday, June 9, 2020

What are Brush Bristles Made of? Synthetic Fill


Synthetic Fill Material
Gordon Brush's selection of synthetic fill brushes includes abrasive brushes and buffs, flow thru brushes, forensic brushes, cleaning brushes, ESD and clean room brushes, and much more. Some of the synthetic fill materials we use are: carbon steel, fiberglass, nylon (abrasive; type 6; type 6.6; type 6.12, conductive; static dissipative), polyester, PEEK, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PTFE, Taklon, and Thunderon®.

Carbon Steel
Carbon fiber is a very fine [0.00030] fiber of 94% pure carbon. The fiber has a tensile strength of 525 Ksi, a tensile modulus of 33 Msi, and an electrical resistivity of 0.00055 Ohms-in.

Fiberglass
Fiberglass brushes are manufactured from spun glass in two grades of material: course and fine. A gentle brushing action cleans and polishes a variety of surfaces, metallic and non-metallic. Fiberglass brushes will not contaminate or alter the electrical properties of the surfaces cleaned. They are ideal for cleaning printed circuit boards, precious metal surfaces, electrical contacts, solder joints, motor commumatators, or removing epoxy, epoxy adhesives, rust, paint oxidation, corrosion, etc. They may also be used for cleaning and polishing plastic molds.

Nylon
Abrasive Nylon
Abrasive nylon is a long wearing filament impregnated with silicon carbide particles. We stock several filament diameters and silicon carbide particle sizes.

Nylon - Type 6
Nylon - Type 6 provides a good durable nylon with good recovery, temperature stability and abrasion resistance at a low cost.

Nylon - Type 6.6
Nylon - Type 6.6 is a top quality, medium- priced with higher stiffness, recovery, and abrasion resistance than type 6. It has the highest heat distortion temperature of the three nylons at 300°F.

Nylon - Type 6.12
Nylon - Type 6.12 is a superior type nylon used in applications calling for low water absorption. It has excellent bend recovery, and abrasion resistance. This is the highest-grade nylon and they resist rot and mildew and discourage bacterial growth. Type 6.12 Nylon bristles are FDA approved and widely used in medical brushes, pharmaceutical brushes and food service brushes.

Nylon – Conductive
Conductive nylon is a type of 6.6 nylon with an electrically conductive coating suffused onto the surface for antistatic bristle brush applications.


Static Dissipative Nylon
Static Dissipative Nylon is a type 6.12 Nylon with a surface resistivity of 109 that does not shed or slough and is clean room compatible. This also includes Statigo 9, a static dissipative nylon that is thick enough to do mechanical work, and does not shed or slough and is clean room compatible.

Polyester
Polyester bristle is a polymer that replaces horsehair. Its features of toughness and high temperature resistance resemble those of Nylon, but Polyester is noted for its ability to recover without whip or slapping action – it will not mat. Polyester has excellent resistance to all acids, alkalis, alcohols, gasoline, benzene and most cleaning solvents. It is a medium- priced filament that resists mildew, bacteria and fungus growth.

PEEK
PEEK is a durable thermoplastic that offers good chemical resistance and is ideal for high heat and corrosive environments. Peek provides excellent flexural and tensile strength up to 480°F and is a great alternative to polypropylene.

Polyethylene
Polyethylene is a soft durable material suitable for applications where abrasion is to be avoided. These flexible bristles are very efficient for thorough washing and polishing of delicate fruits and vegetables. Polyethylene is ideal for soft wiping instead of a brushing action.

Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a versatile low cost filament used for a wide variety of applications. Polypropylene will not absorb moisture or odors and sheds dirt easily. It has excellent wet stiffness, abrasive tip cleaning action, non- brittle, and is inert to most solvents, oil, acids, and chemicals. It is, in fact, one of the most chemically resistant synthetic filament materials.

Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a material that has replaced natural bristles for use where chemical resistance is needed. Its stiff aggressive properties make it ideal for utility brushes, coffee urn brushes, deck scrub brushes, and floor and garage brushes. Polystyrene bristles wear longer, perform better, and yet carry a comparable price tag to natural bristles.

PTFE
A Polymer that is inert to most chemicals, resistant to strong mineral and oxidizing acids, along with alcohols, ketones, ethers, amines, esters, chlorinated compounds and common cleaning solvents. PTFE has excellent property resilience up to 500°F.

Taklon
Taklon is made out of thermoplastic polyester, sometimes referred to as PBT (Polybutylene Therephthalate). Taklon mimic the characteristics of natural sable. It is a bit softer than the earliest nylon brushes and a touch better at picking up powder than nylon, but not by much. Talkon artist brushes hold their shape and maintain their fine points under the toughest conditions.

Thunderon®
Thunderon® is an acrylic fiber that has been chemically bonded with a layer of copper sulfide. This outer layer becomes a part of the host fiber itself, which precludes the 'flaking' problem experienced by other conductive fibers. The fiber diameter is as fine as 0.004 cm (0.0015") and its conductive layer is a super thin 300-1,000A (angstroms). It has electrical specific resistance of 101 - 102 Ω /cm.

Gordon Brush is well stocked with standard brushes using these materials. However, if you don't see what you are looking for, we can always customize a brush for you.

If a brush exists, we have it…If it doesn't, we'll make it!

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