Celanese
Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials
company, and Southwire
Company LLC, North America’s largest wire and cable producer, today
introduced an affordable option for utility transmission lines – the new
C7TM Overhead Conductor with a multi-stranded composite core
of Celstran®
continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic rods (CFR-TPR) from Celanese.
“Designed for utilities that want greater flexibility, reliability and
ease of installation, the C7 Overhead Conductor uses
Celstran® CFR-TPR composite technology that involves an innovative
combination of carbon-fiber and a heat-resistant Fortron®
PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) matrix that is capped with a layer of
high-performance PEEK (polyether ether ketone),” said Michael Ruby,
Celanese global composites business manager. “This combination of
materials provides distinct advantages compared to alternative High
Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) technology and conventional conductors.”
The Celanese- and Southwire-developed transmission conductor delivers
nearly double the capacity and exhibits less sag than the same diameter
aluminum conductor steel-reinforced (ACSR) conductor. The design allows
for minimum sag at higher power transfer, and the stranded Celstran®
CFR-TPR core means there is no single point of failure for the overhead
conductor.
“Southwire has a 60-year history of quality and innovation when it comes
to supplying utilities with transmission solutions,” said Mark
Lancaster, director of overhead transmission engineering at Southwire.
“Our goal in creating the Southwire C7 Overhead Conductor was
to give customers an alternative to our standard ACSR and HS285
transmission line solutions that offers flexibility, reliability and
ruggedness to stand up to a variety of difficult environments.”
Thanks to innovative and patented Celanese engineered material
technology, backed by advanced and proprietary processing, the C7
Overhead Conductor with Celstran® CFR-TPR provides seven key advantages:
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Minimal Thermal Expansion – Lowest level available in a
composite core for minimal sag increase at high power transfer.
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Lightweight – High strength-to-weight ratio.
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Multi-Element Core – No single point of failure, unlike
monolithic constructs.
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Flexible and Robust – Installs like traditional conductor
without the need for special training and equipment.
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Celanese Engineered Material – The only all-thermoplastic
composite core in the world, backed by 50-plus years of material
innovation and know-how, with high-temperature performance (180 to 225
degrees Celsius).
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Multiple Conductor Designs – Tailored for installation
requirements, from light-to-heavy ice loads, normal-to-long spans, and
numerous conductor constructions.
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Use of Conventional Connectors – Traditional, crew-friendly,
two-piece compression fittings.
The Southwire C7 Overhead Conductor – with high-performance
carbon-fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites for a service life
expectancy in excess of 40 years in demanding applications – delivers
superior thermal performance that cuts costs and improves performance
both for new line or reconductoring installations.
“Celanese is excited to work closely with Southwire in this technology
breakthrough for electricity transmission,” said Phil McDivitt, vice
president and general manager of Celanese’s engineered materials
business. “This development reflects the combined strengths of Celanese
thermoplastic composites with the Southwire focus of bringing
step-change technology to the power industry.”
Celstran® CFR-TPR and Celstran® CFR-TP (continuous fiber reinforced
thermoplastic tapes) are produced using a patented pultrusion process
that provides the highest quality impregnation and optimal wetting of
the reinforcement fibers. By using various matrix materials (PPS, PEEK,
PVDF, PBT/PET, PP, HDPE, PAA/PPA, POM, TPU and others) and imbedding
various glass-, carbon- and aramid-fibers together with additives,
Celstran® CFR-TPR and CFR-TP composites can be tailored to meet many
specific application requirements.
About Celanese
Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production
of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in
most major industries and consumer applications. With sales almost
equally divided between North America, Europe and Asia, the company uses
the full breadth of its global chemistry, technology and business
expertise to create value for customers and the corporation. Celanese
partners with customers to solve their most critical needs while making
a positive impact on its communities and the world. Based in Dallas,
Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had
2013 net sales of $6.5 billion. For more information about Celanese
Corporation and its product offerings, visit www.celanese.com
or our blog at www.celaneseblog.com.
All registered trademarks are owned by Celanese International
Corporation or its affiliates.
Fortron is a registered trademark of Fortron Industries LLC.
About Southwire Company LLC
A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company LLC is one
of North America’s largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its
subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, metal-clad (MC) cable,
FlatWire Ready® products, cord products
(including Tappan™ sound, security, and
communication cables through Tappan Wire & Cable Inc.), utility cable
products, industrial power cable, OEM wire products, SCR®
copper and aluminum rod, and continuous casting technology. Southwire
also supplies MAXIS® wire and cable
installation tools to the commercial, industrial and utility
construction markets. To learn more about Southwire’s products,
community involvement, and its vision for a sustainable Southwire,
please visit Southwire on the web at www.southwire.com.
C7 is a trademark of Southwire Company LLC.
Copyright Business Wire 2014