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ASEplas - is the registered trade name for the unique high strength insulating GRP used to prevent carbon steel embrittlement & ice build up in low temperature processes in Petro-chemical, Oil & Gas, and Pharmaceutical industries for hot, cold and special pipes support systems and cold vessel platforms and ladders.

In 1975, following extensive testing, Atplas (now known as ASEplas) was selected to replace wood in the construction of cryogenic supports in a petro-chemical pipe line. Thus began the involvement of Atlantic Plastics with technical supports.

The versatile properties of ASEplas then allowed us, in collaboration with leading industry design companies, to develop the ASEplas range of moulded pipe supports. These have become an industry standard.

ASEplas Constituents

The standard range of ASEplas materials consists of hot press moulded glass reinforced polyester resin composites. The basic constituents have added fillers and modifiers to impart special properties for specific applications.
A separate range of inorganic materials is available for temperatures above 160°C.

ASEplas Formulation

The basic ASEplas formulation may be modified at the compounding stage to impart specific properties such as :

•   Colour

•   Dimensional control

•   Fire and ignition control (See fire test reports)

•   Low smoke and fume emission

•   Control of mechanical properties

•   Modification of thermal resistance

•   Modification of electrical resistance

ASEplas polyester moulding compounds are formulated and dispensed to high accuracy in advanced computer controlled batching and mixing plants.

ASEplas Material Advantages

•   High Mechanical Strength (typically 150 MPa in compression)

•   Good Impact Strength

•   Low Thermal Conductivity 0.2 to 0.5 W/M/°C

•   Uniform Properties in All Directions – Grain Free

•   Wide Temperature Range –200°C to +160°C (special inorganic grades to +700°C)

•   Excellent Durability

•   Unaffected by Most Chemicals in Normal Use

•   Fire Resistant (See fire test reports)
        Not Easily Ignitable BS 476, classified UL V0
        Low Surface Spread of Flame BS 476

ASEplas Other Major Benefits

•   Corrosion free, Maintenance free and weather proof

•   Custom moulded to engineered form

•   No theft risk, material has little extrinsic value

•   No physical decay, 25 years+ life cycle

•   Unaffected by UV light

•   Non hazardous – combustion products non toxic

•   No significant moisture absorption

Typical Properties of Some ASEplas Grades

Materials tested at 20°C

Fatigue and Creep

Fatigue
A variety of standard fatigue tests have been carried out on ASEplas type materials. A general pattern of linear loss of strength with increasing cycles has been observed.
In all cases more than 50% of the short term strength was retained after 107 cycles.

Creep
In common with all polymeric materials (and, for example, concrete) standard grades of ASEplas exhibit creep deformation under sustained loads. With the use of appropriate design load factors a very long safe working product life can be forecast. This has been confirmed by in-house and third party product and material testing.

ASEplas v Wood