Empower Materials is a technology based, high growth, quality focused company. We produce the world’s cleanest, thermally decomposable polymers, the QPAC® product line, which is used in processing advanced technology products. We work closely to empower our customers so that they can gain the full benefit of our products.
Empower Materials Inc. produces the QPAC® line of carbon dioxide-based polymers used for improving manufacturing technologies. The company was founded in 1991 as PAC Polymers Inc. and changed its name in 2001 to reflect its focus on the commercialization of QPAC® for binder applications.
Empower Material products are used by customers worldwide. We are committed to providing quality sales and support through our company headquarters in New Castle, Delaware USA and through our independent distributors around the globe. We are an ISO 9001 : 2008 registered company.
Available in granulates, pellets, aqueous dispersion and solutions
TECHNOLOGY
QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) copolymers are a unique family of thermoplastics representing a true breakthrough in polymer technology.
While traditional plastics have been primarily petroleum based, these new materials are derived from carbon dioxide and are produced through the copolymerization of CO2 with one or more epoxides.
Typical properties include: Both QPAC®25 poly(ethylene carbonate) and QPAC®40 poly(propylene carbonate) burn in air with almost invisible flame, and their products of combustion are non-toxic (primarily carbon dioxide and water). In the absence of oxygen, thermal decomposition yields a cyclic carbonate which vaporizes for complete removal, leaving minimal ash residue. QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) copolymers are amorphous, clear, readily processable and have long-term mechanical stability. Additionally, QPAC®25 poly(ethylene carbonate) is enzyme degradable and biocompatible.
Advantages of QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) binders:
- Decomposes/debinds at a low temperature
- Virtually no residue after decomposition
- Debinds in all atmospheres
- Benign emissions from decomposition
- Excellent green strength
- Controlled debind
- Available in a variety of forms
- Extensive product line to fit a multitude of applications
- Environmentally friendly polymer
Thermogravimetric Analyses
Thermogravimetric analyses in both air and nitrogen show complete decomposition of QPAC®40 poly(propylene carbonate) at low temperatures, heating rate is 10°C/minute.
PRODUCTS
QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) Binders/Sacrificial Materials for High Quality Products
Are you interested in a binder that decomposes quickly and completely? We have a unique family of polymeric binders based on carbon dioxide, called QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) binders.
QPAC®25 poly(ethylene carbonate), QPAC®40 poly(propylene carbonate), QPAC®100 poly(propylene/cyclohexene carbonate), and QPAC®130 poly(cyclohexene carbonate) are all commercially available. This family of products can be individually modified for your specific application. In addition, QPAC®60 poly(butylene carbonate) has been successfully synthesized on the lab scale.
These materials have an exciting blend of unique properties that translate into superior performance for advanced ceramics, sealing glasses, thick film paste systems, powdered metals, composites, and MEMS structures. For example, QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) binders decompose completely in air by 300°C, starting at 200°C. This decomposition temperature is at least 100°C below that of many binders currently used.
Complete burnout also occurs by 340°C in inert atmospheres like in nitrogen, argon, and hydrogen and in reduced atmosphere. Under vacuum processing, the burnout temperatures are even lower. So whether you’re producing dielectric materials, FPD components, diamond cutting tools, brazing pastes, solid electrolytes, fuel cells, sealing glass materials, or electronic inks, binder burnout times can be significantly reduced.
Because QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) binders burn out completely, they yield strong sintered parts, virtually contaminant-free. Ash residues are typically less than 10 ppm for pure binder. Based on 3% binder use levels, residual ash in finished parts would be well under 2 ppm, suitable for applications where purity is essential.
QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) binders and sacrificial materials are also unique in that they burn out mildly, without violent gas formation. Thus, whether your process operates in an oxidizing, reducing or inert atmosphere, you can expect fewer rejects due to cracking. You can also easily predict decomposition, giving you more reliable control and higher-quality products.
Being soluble in many common solvents, QPAC® binders can be adapted for most processes. Also, stable aqueous emulsions are available for water-based processing.
In our tests as well as tests at customer facilities, green and fired strengths and densities of parts prepared with QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) binders match those of parts made with commercial binders that either decompose incompletely or decompose at much higher temperatures. Furthermore, QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) binders produce more consistent parts.
APPLICATIONS
QPAC® poly(alkylene carbonate) polymers can be processed using typical thermoplastic processing techniques, including solution processing, spin casting, injection molding or extrusion. These materials have an exciting blend of unique properties that translate into superior performance for advanced ceramics processed by pressing or tape casting operations, sealing glasses, thick film paste systems, powdered metals, composites, and MEMS structures.
Thermogravimetric analyses in both air and nitrogen show complete decomposition of QPAC®40 poly(propylene carbonate) at low temperatures, heating rate is 10°C/minute.
- Electronic Passive Components
- Brazing Pastes and Solutions
- Abrasive Tool Hardening / Diamond Cutting Tools
- Glass Paste and Sealing Glass Binders
- Thick Film Paste
- High Purity Technical Ceramic Parts
- MEMS Fabrication
- New, Innovative Applications
- Other Structural Applications
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