Material Information
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W Z
  

 

  
  Alveolit
   
  Alveolit is a PE-foam which is extremely tough, i.e. upholstery using this high-quality foam still fulfills its purpose after many years.
   
   
  Aramide fibers (Aromatic Polyamide)
   
 

The DuPont company led Aramid fibers, under the name of Kevlar, to market maturity.
There is a differentiation between high-module fibers and low-module fibers, the latter being used for e.g. bullet-proof vests.

Aramid fibers have a high specific strength, low density, high impact strength and good vibration damping.
The pressure resistance of Aramid fiber plastics (AFP) is however low.
Aramid fibers are used in the form of fabric/woven and layered material.
 
 
  Bonded Fabrics
   
 

Bonded fabrics are laminates that are formed from reinforcing fibers and a matrix of plastic resins. Light components with a very high stability of form and strength can be made from these bonded fabrics.
   
 
  Carbon Fibers
   
 

The first carbon fibers became available in small amounts at high prices (3000 DM/ kg) in the 1960s. Today, carbon fibers are used as reinforcing fibers in many heavy-load components.
Carbon fiber plastics (CFP) are very light, highly expansion- and pressure-resistant, have excellent aging resistance and vibration damping. The strength of CFP surpasses that of metal and other bonded materials.
Carbon fibers are used in fabrics and layered materials.
   
   
  Composite Constructions
   
  A composite construction is a multi-layered bonded construction consisting of two very strong outer layers and a lightweight inner layer (sandwich material). The component's second moment of area is increased and thus also its pliability. Composite constructions are very light and are used frequently in aircraft construction.
 
   
  Cordura
   
  Cordura is the trade name for a special nylon fabric developed by DuPont. It has an extremely high load-bearing capacity. The enormous abrasion resistance is known to many people via their own experiences with backpacks made of this material.
The denier (den) indicates the yarn count and thus the strength of the fabric. The higher the value, the thicker the material
   
 
  Epoxy Resin (EP Resin)
   
 

Bonded fabrics, which have to perform to the highest demands of reliability and longevity, are made primarily of epoxy resin. It has a higher dynamic and static strength than UP resin and remains extremely impact-resistant at very low temperatures.
   
   
  Exchangeable PE-Runner System
 
 

A system for which first an aluminum rail is fixed to the sled. The HD-PE runner is then fitted to this rail and fixed at the front end by a screw.
This rather heavy system allows glide runners to be used without needing to bore holes in the coating. The glide characteristics are thus considerably improved.
   
 
  Fabrics
   
  Technical fabrics are made of the most different reinforcing fibers available and are woven in many different ways. The most commonly used weaves are canvas and twill whereby twill weaves can be draped better. If different fibers are worked into one fabric, it is called a hybrid fabric.
   
   
  Fleece
   
 

The fleeces used in plastics have the advantage over foam that they can be draped very easily, i.e. they can be used in smaller radians.

The fleeces are partly or completely drenched in the matrix material, as for the reinforcing fibers. This means that they are considerably heavier than foams in the finished component.
 
   
  Foam
 
  The foams used for composite constructions are mostly closed-pore hard foams made of different materials (PVC, PUR, PE).
The mechanical characteristics and the weight of a component can be changed by varying thickness and density.
   
 
  Glass Fiber Pipes
   
  There are 2 variations of glass fiber pipes.
The first is a pipe where all the reinforcing fibers run longitudinally. This comparatively cheap pipe has a low breaking elongation.
The pipes we use have the glass fibers wound around the perimeter of the pipe. This winding of the reinforcing fibers allows considerably better breaking elongation.
 
   
  Glass Fibers
   
 

Glass fibers made of E-glass are the most commonly used reinforcing material.
The strength characteristics of glass fiber plastics (GFP) correspond to those of metals whereby the specific weight is lower than that of metal. Glass fibers are used in mattes, fabrics and layered material.
   
 
  Glide Coating
   
  There are many different finishes available. They are mostly formed into shape first during production in order to obtain a particularly good surface finish, since this can considerably influence the glide characteristics.
With polyester components a so-called gel coating is used. This coating is a hard and scratch-resistant finish based on polyester.

For our models made with epoxy resin, we have developed our own coating. This coating consists of epoxy resins, different hardening agents and fillers. We have also added graphite powder. This additive improves the glide characteristics of the sled considerably. Other fillers improve the scratch-resistance.
Due to its color we have called this glide coating "black magic".
 
  Hand Application Procedure
   
  During hand application, the reinforcing fibers are drenched with the matrix material using a fur roller. The laminate is then de-aerated using an airing roller or a rubber spatula. The unwanted trapped air, which can lead to loss in strength, is thus removed.
   
   
  Hybrid Fabrics
 
  We use mostly hybrid fabrics made of carbon and Aramid fibers.
Thus, two different material characteristics can be combined in one layer.
See fabrics.
   
 
  Layered Material
   
  Layered material differs from fabrics in that the reinforcing fibers are not interwoven but sewn. Thus, the grain is straighter and the components are stiffer. Layered material is divided into unidirectional, bi-axial, tri-axial and quad-axial layers after the direction has been set.
 
   
  Laminates
   
 

Laminates are materials consisting of single layers joined together. In plastics, one talks of composite/bonded or fiber bonded materials. They consist of at least two physically or chemically different components bound together via a boundary layer.

   
   
  Lay-up
   
  A lay-up is the sequence of different layers consisting of reinforcing fibers and core-materials. It is therefore a construction plan which provides information concerning strength and weight of a component taking into account the resins used.
 
 
  Matrix
   
 

In order to make use of the in parts strong reinforcing fibers, they are embedded in a matrix of synthetic resin. Polyester resins, epoxy resins and vinylester resins are used for this.
Drenching the fibers in the matrix material can be done in a hand application procedure, in a vacuum process or in a vacuum injection process.
   
   
  Mattes
   
 

Glass fiber mattes are the most widespread type of reinforcing material. They consist of individual glass fibers of approx. 6 cm in length, randomly laid and glued together by a coating. Glass fiber mattes are almost only used in conjunction with polyester resins.
 
 
  Nylon
   
 

Nylon is a polyamide. All of the buckles we use are made of nylon.
Nylon is a material which becomes less brittle in cold weather and is thus less likely to break. Cheap buckles made of e.g. acrylic are not good at low temperatures.
   
 
  Packing Height
   
 

The packing height indicated is a mean value.
It is obviously possible to pack the pulka higher. The higher the center of gravity, the more likely the pulka is to tip over. Thus, it is advisable to use a slightly larger pulka than to pack it too high.
The lower the center of gravity, the better the glide characteristics.
 
 
  Polyethylene - PE
 

 
 

This chemical simply constructed plastic is available in different densities. A high-density ( HD-PE) has an approx. density of 96% in comparison to that of water. It is therefore lighter than water.
HD-PE is characterized by its high level of hardness and thus by a hard surface.
LD-PE has a density of approx. 92% in comparison to that of water. It is lighter still and has a very stable form. Components made of LD-PE are generally softer than components made of HD-PE.
Due to the very good glide characteristics, PE is excellently suited as a material for our runner coatings.
   
 
  PE-Bearing
   
  The PE-Bearing is a pull-rope fitting screwed to the side of the sled.
This is made of soft polyethylene (PE) or Teflon.
This pull-rope fitting is to protect the rope from too much friction. That is why we use this material.
   
   
 

Polyester Resin (UP-Resin)
 

 
 

Unsaturated polyester resins are used most commonly in plastics as a matrix for GFP. The characteristics of UP resins can be very different. The resins used for GFP components harden like glass and are very hard.
 
 
 

Reinforcing Fibers
   
 

Reinforcing fibers give fiber bonded materials their hardness. They are made of different materials (e.g. glass, Aramid, carbon, polyester). The fibers are used in mattes, fabrics and layered material. The types of fiber and the direction of the fibers in the component have considerable influence on its toughness characteristics and weight.
 
 
 

Stainless Steel
   
 

Stainless steel is corrosion-free, acid-resistant and a lot stronger than ordinary steel. For the dragging bar fittings we use cold-worked stainless steel, which has extreme form-stability.
   
   
  Straps
   
 

Our straps are made of terylene polyester. This material is very resistant to UV and aging.
The straps are also extremely tear-resistant. Polyester does not expand and does not absorb dampness.
The type of weave used in our straps is adapted for use with nylon buckles. That is why they glide through the buckles more easily than other straps.
 
   
 

Solid Laminate
   
  A sold laminate is a laminate without core-material. Our solid laminates are produced in a vacuum process. Solid laminates are mostly constructed in pure Kevlar.
   
   
  Sandwich Materials (core-materials)
   
  Sandwich materials are foams, fleece, honeycomb constructions or distance weaves. The material is very light but pressure-resistant and tough. Thus, an optimal connection of the outer layer of a composite construction is guaranteed.
   
   
  Schöller Textiles
   
 

A non-clean, quick-drying and highly elastic polyamide compound material developed by the Schöller company.
This material is used for hip belts by all renowned backpack manufacturers.
 
 

 
 

Superlight RS
   
  is a very tear-free nylon fabric. When a hole is torn in the material, further tearing is hindered by weaving thicker thread at different intervals (rip-stop technology). The material is silicon-coated and has a sqm. weight of approx. 74g !
   
 
 

Teflon
   
  also called PTFE. This plastic has an extremely smooth surface. Thus, Teflon is very suitable for our pull-rope fittings. Unfortunately, this material is heavier than comparable polyethylene.
 
   
 

Tempering Chamber (Tempering Process)
   
  A tempering chamber can be compared to an over-dimensional baking oven. Some high-tech plastic resins need to be treated with a very exact temperature during and after hardening.
This process is called tempering. The temperatures can be raised up to 140º C, according to the type of resin and application of the component.
   
 
 

Vacuum Process
 
 

As for the hand application process, the reinforcing fibers are drenched with the matrix material using a fur roller. The laminate is then de-aerated. The unwanted trapped air is thus removed more reliably. Excess resin is also removed. The components manufactured in the vacuum process are lighter than comparable components made in the hand application process.
   
 
 

Welded Joints
 
 

The middle part of our dragging bars are made of welded aluminum tubes.
The welds are of very high quality. The middle part is conceived in such a way that in case of a fall it becomes deformed before it breaks. This deforming can usually be rectified very easily, even on tour.
   
   
 

WP Versions
 
 

Pulkas in the WP version are especially sealed. The tubs of these sleds are watertight, thus they float.
All joints in the lower area are filled with filling material. The dragging bar fittings are connected to each other, as far as the PE-Bearing is concerned; this is normally a tube or hose, through which the pull-rope runs. The inside of the pulka is thus protected from water.
The use of the pulkas, mainly in Arctic regions, make these measure necessary.