Product category:
Cables and Wires
News Release from: Syscom Technology | Subject: AmberStrand
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 05 January 2006
Metallised polymer fibre offers
lightweight wiring
Syscom Technology has successfully completed demonstration runs and independent analysis and is now ready to commercially produce its AmberStrand metallised polymer fibre.
Syscom Technology has successfully completed demonstration runs and independent analysis and is now ready to commercially produce its AmberStrand metallised polymer fibre Although polymer fibres have been around for a while, Syscom's patented process for metal coating Toyobo's Zylon Poly PBO fibre makes an extremely strong and lightweight fibre with conductive properties
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 8 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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AmberStrand metal-clad polymer fibres have advantages over conventional conductive metal wires in flexibility, weight savings, mechanical strength, durability and tailored electrical conductivity.
Therefore, the combined engineering properties of AmberStrand fibre afford soft textile-like wiring applications and shielding at a reduced weight.
Further, AmberStrand fibre can be terminated just like a regular metal wire with the choice of soldering or band connector.
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The stringent weight and space requirements of advanced space and aerospace systems have lead to a need for stronger, lighter, smaller, and more flexible cable and wiring components.
The increasingly compact design of electrical packaging imposes significant stress levels on copper conductors.
The aerospace industry has been compelled to replace the 26 gauge copper wire currently used in aerospace vehicles with a smaller 28 gauge or 30 gauge beryllium alloy wire.
This has not been entirely successful because the thinner wires do not have the necessary mechanical strength and durability.
Manufacturers of electronic equipment and wiring will find AmberStrand to fit their needs when low weight and durability are critical.
Applications will include aircraft rewiring/retrofitting applications, new aerospace and space vehicles, military, miniature electronic applications, sports, healthcare instrumentation, plus the newly emerging field of electronic textiles.
The availability of this product will make possible new products and uses which are not currently possible.
Specifically, a sample of three twisted 12in strands of AmberStrand was tested to be 26.6% lighter than beryllium copper wire.
Breaking strength was double of beryllium copper wire.
AmberStrand requires 4-10x dynamic cut-through force.
Shielding effectiveness is comparable to beryllium copper wire at all tested frequencies.
With its superior performance characteristics, AmberStrand has the market to itself in these applications.
The other metalised polymer, namely, Dont's Aracon, has different characteristics.
In fact AmberStrand is stronger than Aracon and sells for less.
AmberStrand is also finding its way into the e-textile market, and the product passed the preliminary US Army wash test.
The fibre was sewn onto a piece of cloth (bobbin side) and washed 20 times.
The sample material which was uninsulated showed barely no change in resistance throughout the test (3mohm).
This test demonstrated the durability of the AmberStrand metal clad polymer fibre.
Jar-Wha Lee, PhD, founded Syscom Technology in 1993.
Dr Lee, a chemist is a graduate of Fu-Jen University (Taiwan) and Rutgers University.
His developmental efforts were funded by investors and by Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Office of Naval Research (ONR), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), among others.
Syscom is able to manufacture AmberStrand to client specifications to include type and thickness of coatings, number of strands woven into one fibre, and custom lengths.
AmberStrand can be used as a shielding braid, as a bare wire, or can be coated with an insulation material.
Dr Lee says: "Initial customer receptivity is unusually strong and the product will enable novel and surprising applications to occur".
Syscom is currently building its second-generation large-volume manufacturing system.
Syscom's website offers more information, reference citations, ordering worksheets, and an ability to order engineering evaluation samples and shorter "touch me" samples.
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