Fibox, the leading manufacturer of innovative polycarbonate electrical enclosures, and EcoVadis bronze medal holder for its sustainability management system, is exhibiting at Drives and Controls this year. The show is part of Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week held at the NEC in Birmingham on 5th – 6th June. Our UK team are located at stand E42 in hall 5 and find out how Fibox enclosure products and services can help your product design and manufacture and help your ESG compliance.
Fibox’s slogan is “Enclosing Innovations”, the statement points to the innovation of design inherent in Fibox products, also alludes to the fact that Fibox enclosures protect and secure their customer’s innovations. Fibox realizes that it can be really challenging for design engineers to choose the optimum material for an electrical enclosure. Usually, ensuring the long-term service life of equipment located in hostile environments is an important consideration but one that needs to be balanced with the need for the equipment to meet the requirements of the application.
Painted mild-steel, Stainless-steel and polymers such as glass filled polyester or polycarbonate are materials that are most often specified as a preferred enclosure material. The following article seeks to shed some light on these materials and the important factors that should be taken into consideration in the design or specification process.
Mild-Steel
The resistance to corrosion is an important consideration. Corrosion is an electrochemical process that requires the presence of water and oxygen. In the process, the iron in the steel becomes oxidised, this results in rust occupying approximately six times the volume of the original material. Iron is also aggressively attacked by the Sodium Chlorine present in seawater atmospheres and by Sulphides present in industrial pollution. Mild steel enclosures are usually painted to prevent oxygen, liquids, and atmospheric pollutants from being in contact with the steel surfaces. However, any machined holes, for cable glands for example, expose the bare steel and are vulnerable to rusting. Scratches to the painted surface can expose the underlying steel to the elements and produce corrosion. Rusting can quickly spread, lifting the painted surface, and rendering an electrical enclosure unusable with expensive consequences.
Stainless-Steel
Stainless-Steel contains roughly 11% Chromium which dramatically increases the materials’ resistance to corrosion. The addition of up to 3% Molybdenum in the 316 grade of stainless-steel increases this resistance further, additionally elevating its resistance to chloride and sulphide corrosion. Stainless Steel, although resistant to corrosion is not a tough material, ‘toughness’ being defined as a material’s ability to withstand impact. Stainless Steel will dent easily, possibly compromising the integrity of the enclosure allowing the ingress of dust and liquids.
Glass Reinforced Polyester
Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) is a composite material formed by combining thermoset polyester resin with glass fibres and is often considered to offer an array of exceptional properties suitable for an electrical enclosure. However, consideration needs to be given to the surface resin film which will deteriorate over time and through erosion by natural elements, exposing the underlying glass fibres. The resulting finish is unsightly and can cause harm through loose glass particles penetrating the skin. Additionally, machining of this material requires special tools and the provision of an extraction system to prevent particles from becoming air borne. The recycling of Glass Reinforced Polyester is difficult and requires the laminate to be broken down.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonates are a group of thermoplastic polymers known for their exceptional versatility in being easily worked, moulded, and thermoformed. The most significant environmental advantage it’s ability to be recycled, contributing to sustainable manufacturing practices, and reducing plastic waste.
Key features of Fibox polycarbonate include:
- Good UV performance
- Flexible and tough, up to IK 10
- Good temperature range (-20 degrees F to 240 degrees F)
- Good chemical resistance
- Easy to modify
- Self-extinguishing flammability
- Easy to recycle
When considering all the above factors and by leveraging the recyclability of Fibox polycarbonates, designers, manufacturers, and installers, can make informed decisions that benefit both performance and the environment.
Fibox Polycarbonate in renewables
The use of Fibox polycarbonate in electrical enclosures brings a multitude of benefits to many industries, including renewable energy. The engineering team at Fibox’s customer, PAD Technology Ltd have carefully considered factors such as UV resistance, thermal stability, and mechanical strength when selecting materials for their renewable energy products. Polycarbonate’s excellent UV resistance preserves the enclosure’s integrity and appearance over time, while its high thermal stability ensures performance under varying temperatures. The material’s impact resistance is crucial for protecting sensitive electrical components from physical damage. By integrating polycarbonate enclosures, in particular the Fibox ARCA cabinet series, PAD Technology Ltd have effectively addressed the unique challenges of renewable energy product design, ensuring that their solutions meet the highest standards of durability, security, performance, and recyclability.
Contact: salesuk@fibox.com; T: 01642 604 400
Author: George Hulme
Company: Fibox Ltd
Contact: george.hulme@fibox.com
