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Isoblow compound for traffic separators
Traffic separators are indispensable in multiple situations of change or temporary demarcation of transit, namely due to construction, road maintenance, events, etc. Subject to weather conditions, the separators require good mechanical properties as well as thermal and dimensional stability properties. Specialized in the design and manufacture of products for road signs and safety, Brochado & Castro, Lda. (BCL), with a factory in Custóias, has established a partnership with Isolago with the objective of improving the quality of the separators and also the production conditions.
Specialist in the development and production of plastic compounds, Isolago has a specific product line for extrusion-blow applications, marketed under the Isoblow brand. Through the composition, it is possible to improve the product’s mechanical characteristics, so that despite maintaining them, the product can be manufactured with less weight and with shorter cycle times. Productivity improvements with Isoblow compounds vary between 10 and 30 %. In the case of compounds formulated for BCL, a 15 % increase in production capacity was achieved.
The fact that traffic separators are lighter makes it easier to handle and transport them during the installation/removal phases. While in use, these separators are filled with water so that they remain in a fixed position. The “New Jersey” separators are hollow bodies with an approximately triangular section, 353.8 cm high and 111 cm long. They have a capacity of 75 L and are moulded by extrusion-blow in two colours (red and white). The side details allow for in-line fitting.
The Isoblow compounds formulated by Isolago for BCL traffic separators have HDPE as their base polymer. The formulation made it possible to increase the flexion module by about 25 % and to increase the resistance to weather conditions. In this way, Isolago met BCL’s technical requirements.
The range of Isoblow compounds includes various formulations based on polymers such as PE, PP and PA, and may vary according to the technical requirements placed by the different types of extrusion-blow moulded products.
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