Black Amalgon: Anti-Corrosion Composite Tubing Improves Performance for Pneumatic Actuators - Amalga Composites

Black Amalgon: Anti-Corrosion Composite Tubing Improves Performance for Pneumatic Actuators

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Case Study

Pneumatics/Black Amalgon

Client: QTRCO

The Problem

QTRCO is a company whose goal is to manufacture actuators that do not encounter field service issues. In addition to their unique design and elimination of typical failure modes, QTRCO needed Amalga’s specialized composite tubing to achieve their goal. In specific, pneumatic cylinders present an engineering problem in nearly all applications. Steel has a relatively high friction point, and it is costly to hone it to reduce friction. This translates to a costly product, with sub-par durability. Corrosion and weight are also issues for QTRCO’s pneumatic actuators. In short: metal (steel, aluminum, etc) is not a valid option for performance and durability.

The Amalga Solution

Amalga developed the process of gel-coating the inside surface of our composite fiber-reinforced tubing to produce Black Amalgon. This patented process provides a smooth, self-lubricating interior surface that performs just like a honed surface without the costs of honing. The composite material is 75% lighter than steel, 25% lighter than aluminum with superior corrosion resistance and the composite material will not dent, unlike aluminum. Learn more about Amalga’s Black Amalgon.

The Results

We honestly can’t say it better than our pleased client:

"The performance and weight savings of the Amalgon cylinder has become an integral part of our business. When compared with stainless or carbon steel the Amalgon cylinder is approximately 1/4 of the weight and covers the majority of the operating temperatures for our products, it is also much easier to handle than traditional materials reducing maintenance times and stress loads on connected parts. Black Amalgon's manufacturing process ensures a smooth self-lubricating inside surface that prevents pistons from sticking, even after they have remained idle for months and ongoing tests conducted on non-lubricated cylinders resulted in cycles of greater than a million strokes without requiring seal replacement.”

- QTRCO

Jose Di Geronimo

CEO at Amalga Composites