high temperature plastic

[conny]

I am looking for a plastic that can be used in high-temperature (80° - 170°C) solar collectors as an absorber. The idea is to have a new absorber that can expand as water heats up or freezes, thus making antifreeze unnecessary.

The material should be
1) flexible and elastic
2) take temperatures up to 170°C (steam) without disintegrating or releasing any chemical compounds
3) non-corrosive
4) UV-resistant
5) water proof to a pressure of at least 2 atm (including the welded seams and connections to valves etc.)
6) thin (< 3 mm), preferably with good heat transport characteristics (i.e. non insulating)
7) available in sizes of at least 2 x 1 m
9) connectable to valves
Any idea who I could contact for this?

 

[insideman]

The combination of requirements you list are rather challenging!

I think silicones could do the job for you.
Possibly the 2atm requirement would neccessitate a spiral steel wire wrap reinforcement.

I don't understand &quot;connectable to valves&quot;.
Maybe you reaaly want tubing?

 

[conny]

Thank you for you reply!
It is indeed challenging, that's maybe one reason it hasn't been done yet.
I am thinking of some kind of high-tech textile to add strength to the aborber.
Yes , you are right, I mean connectable to tubes. The absorber must somehow be connected to an inlet and an outlet. If it is done in a molding process there is no problem with this. However, if you use fabrics such as applied in rubber dinghies (Zodiac's) this fabric must allow to be connected to a tube with good strenghth.
I am not a chemical engineer, so who produces these silicones you are mentioning?

 

[wmv]

I would recommend PTFE (Teflon) tube, it can withstand all criteria you listed and can have UV stabilizer added. Please see our wesite at.

http://.

http://www.aptechno.com

Bill Vardeman