Innovation Polymers

Customers in the ultrasonic polymer market have long been searching for polymers to choose between a product with better ultrasonic capabilities and physical attributes like strength or temperature resistance. Innovation Polymers bridges this gap by offering molded polymers with the necessary material and ultrasonic qualities.

“Our wide range of unique sound coupling polymeric media act as an efficient medium in sending and receiving signals between transducers, causing minimal distortion,” says Rick MacNeil, founder and CEO of Innovation Polymers.

It supports nondestructive testing (NDT) and medical ultrasonic imaging industries, creating highly effective sound transfer by developing acoustic-capable polymers. These new polymers enable the ultrasonic sensor to be attached to the material under test and provide a layer to couple, seal, or optimize energy transfer.

Innovation Polymers offers a variety of hard and soft polymers that can endure high temperatures. It also provides customized polymers that can be developed to meet specific requirements.

Innovation Polymers’ oldest polymer, Aqualene^TM, offers a coupling that sets benchmarks in the NDT and ultrasonic polymer industry. Aqualene is the base infrastructure for all the polymers it has produced over the years and has been in the market for almost two decades. Although Aqualene is an older material, Innovation Polymers has made improvements to it over time to increase its hardness and coupling capability.

Other materials in its portfolio include AquaSilox 100 and AquaSilox 140, which provide high-temperature and oil resistance, ACE for low-temperature applications, and Aqua Cyan, which is used for applications that demand rigid, abrasion-resistant materials.

Aqualink is a clear and soft polymer that has generated market attention for Innovation Polymers. This product was created for applications requiring the polymer to conform to the shape of the tested material. For instance, Hydro Quebec, a Canadian firm specializing in acoustic testing of turbines in hydroelectric projects, approached Innovation Polymers for a specific solution. The propeller, the main component of the turbine, has complicated ergonomics with multiple curves and angles. The customer wanted to look at the turbine section where the propeller is connected to the core. This necessitates a polymer wedge that can adapt to the changing shape of the propeller as it rotates. Aqualink, as a soft and compliant polymer, was the perfect choice for developing the wedge for this purpose.

would like to know more are offered the opportunity to purchase sample sets of materials to help narrow down their choice of which material would perform best for their application. Customers can also request polymers that are not a part of their product offering. Under these conditions, custom molds are built using AutoCAD to design the polymer precisely to their specifications. Depending on the purpose and cost-effectiveness of the polymer, it can be produced using an injection molding machine or compression press technology.

Innovation Polymers offers customers the opportunity to consult with company-appointed ultrasonic specialists, who assist customers in selecting the right polymer thickness, size, and form. These ultrasonic experts have years of expertise and use CIVA, a software that generates simulations of how sound travels from the transducer to the polymer material and answers technical concerns like sound speed, attenuation, and impedance.

On the global supply side, Innovation Polymers operates in a specialized market and ships its products worldwide. The focus on a specific customer base necessitates participation in collaborative solution development with customers through its products.

Customers introduce particular product-related challenges throughout this process, which Innovation Polymers attempts to solve using its expertise in polymers and ultrasonic energy. Its efficiency in the supply process has earned it reputed clients like General Electric and Innerspec Technologies.

A reputed presence in the industry, Innovation Polymers possesses a thorough understanding of various polymers and provides a wide array of products to customers to meet their unique demands. Innovation Polymers’ success can be attributed to its ability to recognize customer demands and offer the most economical and effective polymers.