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ITALIAN MOTORCYLE HELMET MANUFACTURER CHOOSES TWO LEXAN RESINS FOR HELMET LINES
23 August 2004 - GE Advanced Materials
| Nolan chose the co-polymer polycarbonate-siloxane Lexan EXL resin for the shell of its full-face, flip-up helmet model N101, and the use of this material has since been extended to the complete product range. |
The production of protective motorcycling helmets by the Nolan Group of companies began in the early 1970s, when it was decided that Lexan polycarbonate resin, the same innovative material used by NASA for astronaut helmets, would be used to further improve motorcycle helmet safety. Throughout its 35-year history, in partnership with GE Advanced Materials, the Nolan Group has continuously raised the standard of its products, has broadened its range and has encouraged the honing of increasingly sophisticated materials. Motorcycle helmet design demands tough requirements from the materials that comprise it. Designs must be functional, offering a high level of protection against impact with either flat or sharp objects, which may occur in an accident event, even at temperatures well below the freezing point. Moreover, as a piece of apparel, the materials should also allow the flexibility to create eye-catching designs that will attract the attention of the consumers who purchase them. Nolan chose the co-polymer polycarbonate-siloxane Lexan EXL resin for the shell of its full-face, flip-up helmet model N101, and the use of this material has since been extended to the complete product range. The specific grade chosen offers excellent impact resistance at low temperatures, superior chemical resistance and enhanced paintability when compared to traditional polycarbonate resins. Together with the protective shell, another key element of a motorcycle helmet is the visor. Using Lexan optical quality polycarbonate resin enabled Nolan to deliver optical clarity with higher eyes protection against subtle UV rays with wavelengths shorter than 400nm (UV 400 protection). Visors are treated with a scratch-resistant coating, also provided by GE Advanced Materials The combination of Lexan resins allows Nolan to meet and exceed European and US safety standards such as ECE 22-05, DOT 218. In addition, Nolan offers a five-year guarantee from date of purchase of its helmets. Today, the cooperation between the two companies continues and GE Advanced Materials is committed to delivering Nolan with material technology to continuously improve safety, comfort, aesthetics and productivity. Nolan Group markets his helmets in more 70 countries in the world under the brands X-lite, Nolan and Grex, in more than 30 models and hundreds versions. Details at www.nolan.it.
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About: GE Advanced Materials
GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicone-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Among its businesses are:• Silicones, which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offers silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, resins, and elastomers for a variety of industries such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, foam control, and consumer (http://www.gesilicones.com/gesilicones/am1/en/home.jsp); • Plastics is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, which serves customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging (http://www.geplastics.com/); • Quartz produces high purity materials for the semiconductor, fiber optic, lamp making and water purification industries. GE Quartz is a leading supplier of quartz materials to the semiconductor industry (http://www.gequartz.com/en/index.htm); Established in 1968, GE Advanced Materials’ Specialty Film & Sheet business is a leading supplier of high-performance engineering film and sheet products to the United States, Europe, Africa, India, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and operates a worldwide network of sales, research, manufacturing and technical services facilities. Today, GE Advanced Materials, Specialty Film & Sheet employs about 600 people, and manufactures engineering sheet and film products at 12 facilities in 9 countries worldwide. Recent investments:
• 2003 New Roofing Structures Line in Italy, Europe
• 2003 New Coating Lines in China & Malaysia, Pacific
• 2002 Acquisition of Plastech, China
• 2001 New Film Lines in USA and Europe
• 2001 Acquisition of Carboron, Malaysia
• 2000 Acquisition of Matraplast, Canada
• 2000 Acquisition of Nim Plastics, USA Products:
GE Advanced Materials offers a variety of film materials are to meet different type of applications such as graphic film, coated products, electrical & electronic products, and specialties. The key film materials available today include:
• Lexan* Polycarbonate film
• Ultem* film
• Lexan* SLX film
• Valox* film
• Lexan* Illuminex* film GE Advanced Materials’ sheet product line includes a wide range of structures from solid sheet, multi-wall sheet and corrugated sheet through to coated sheet and laminates and combinations of each of these. The key sheet materials available today include:
• Lexan* Polycarbonate sheet
• Lexan* Solar Control IR sheet
• Margard* coated sheet
• Lexgard* laminated sheet
• Ultem* sheet
• Lexan EXL* sheet GE Advanced Materials, Specialty Film & Sheet, serves customers in a variety of industries including aircraft, appliances, automotive, building and construction, business machines, electrical & lighting, furnishing, greenhouse, industrial roofing, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications and packaging. In January 2004, in line with GE Corporate’ new brand architecture, GE Advanced Materials has announced the change of GE Structured Products business naming to GE Advanced Materials, Specialty Film & Sheet. |
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• From GE Advanced Materials
• For Engineering Plastics
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