New high-performance industrial sensors manufactured by Advanced Sensor Technologies Inc., Orange, Calif., feature a housing made of unreinforced KetaSpire® KT-880 NT polyetheretherketone (PEEK) from Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC. The thermoplastic housing meets the harsh operating conditions found in process control measurement and monitoring applications in chemical manufacturing, environmental control, mining, pulp and paper, and wastewater, as well as food and dairy industries.

Many of these sensors, which measure pH, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), and ion concentration, must handle temperatures up to 135°C (275°F) and resist a range of chemical attack, according to Martin Patko, president of Advanced Sensor Technologies. KetaSpire PEEK fits the bill due to its high heat resistance, broad chemical resistance, ease of processing, and excellent ductility. Specifically, the material boasts a heat deflection temperature of 315°C (599°F), continuous-use temperature up to 240°C (464°F), high impact strength, excellent fatigue resistance, and outstanding chemical resistance to organics (particularly solvents), acids, and bases. It also has excellent mechanical properties, particularly in high-pressure environments.

The injection molded housing exhibits less visible strain, is easier to mold, and takes 40% of the time for annealing than other commercially available PEEK grades, thus providing increased productivity, according to Patko. The material can also handle a range of secondary operations including machining and offers improved surface finish and reduced tooling abrasion.

KetaSpire PEEK is available in unfilled, glass-reinforced, and carbon-reinforced grades and can be easily processed via standard injection molding, extrusion, and compression molding processes.

About Advanced Sensor Technologies Inc.
Located in Orange, Calif., Advanced Sensor Technologies Inc. is a leading manufacturer of durable and long-lasting industrial pH sensors, ORP sensors, ion selective sensors, and conductivity sensors for demanding inline process control measurement and monitoring uses in the chemical, mining, pulp and paper, wastewater, and food and dairy industries. More information is available at (714) 978-2837 or www.astisensor.com.

About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC, produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, healthcare, electronics, aerospace, and other demanding industries. Learn more at www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com.
SOLVAY is an international industrial Group active in Chemistry. It offers a broad range of products and solutions that contribute to improving quality of life. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and employs about 19,000 people in 50 countries. In 2009, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 8.5 billion. Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels (NYSE Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR). Details are available at www.solvay.com.

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Joseph Grande
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