Versatility of Product Lines, Applications and the Solutions Provided: Q&A with Saint-Gobain® Norgard® Product Manager
In the last quarter of 2023, Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions welcomed a new product family into our diverse product portfolio for bonding, protection and insulation needs.
The Norgard Product Portfolio is extremely diverse and encompasses three different product lines including PTFE films, PI films and silicone-coated fabrics.
To better understand these products and applications, we partnered with Victoria Ammermann, Product Manager, Norgard.
We asked her to share how these products can help serve multiple markets and to focus on applications within the aerospace market in particular. She also took a deeper dive into one product that has been of particular interest amongst many of our current customer base: PTFE films!
Victoria, please tell us about yourself.
I graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. I have worked in chemical and materials manufacturing for 10 years, holding various roles. I started my career as a process/production engineer. After 3.5 years, I accepted a customer-facing role as an applications development engineer. About 5 years ago, I transitioned into my current role as Product Manager.
Could you specify what your role as product manager entails?
I like to describe product management as a wheel with spokes — product managers sit in the middle of the wheel, balancing a customer and business focus with different spokes reaching out to quality, process engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, R&D, marketing and sales. Product management bridges the gap to ensure all teams are supported and collaboratively working towards growth and development within the product line.
If we look at the Norgard Product Line more broadly, could you share what main customer pain points these products could help solve?
Each product line within the portfolio serves different needs. Capabilities include providing protection barriers, non-stick release, insulation, dielectric control, and friction control. This makes these products ideal within aerospace, but also within a variety of other market areas as well. I will briefly share an overview of each.
PTFE films enable unprecedented electrical performance for the most demanding cable builds within aerospace and military markets. They are very common in wire and cable (W&C) and serve as insulation and dielectric control within this market segment.
PTFE films can also serve as a protection barrier film, such as in Zn-air battery cells. They regulate airflow to the cathode and ensure the proper functioning of the battery. They also ensure protection for manufacturing belts in process manufacturing.
PI films can serve as either a protection barrier or dielectric control. They are used for release liners in aerospace composite moulding. Other PI film applications include insulation for down-hole pump power cables or insulation of solid Li-ion battery packs in electric vehicles. They are also used as insulation for mag-wires, which are used in MRI machines within the medical market.
Silicone-coated fabrics are mainly used as a protection barrier. They can be formulated to meet various conductivity values and serve as a heat sink in electronic applications.
If a product within the portfolio is not suitable for a specific application, the Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions team can formulate and develop a product that meets specific demands.
There has been a lot of interest in PTFE films. Could you tell us more?
Tape Solutions Norgard PTFE Films are manufactured to the highest quality standards and formulated to maximise typical PTFE properties. Norgard PTFE Films are widely used as gasketing materials to prevent unwanted leakage while protecting design integrity, belt edging to maximise the lifespan of processing belts, and release liners to ensure full release in coating processes, leading to process optimisations and cost reductions. The industries Norgard PTFE Films serve include, but are not limited to, medical, industrial, aerospace, military, and green energy solutions.
Could you tell us why PTFE films are a popular product in today’s aerospace market?
The physical properties of PTFE films make them exceptionally unique. At present, there isn’t another product on the market that offers the same features, benefits, chemical structure, or capabilities. Essentially, no alternative product could perform in the same way as a PTFE film.
There are numerous uses and applications of Norgard Products within the aerospace industry. To keep the article concise, I will focus on just a few applications.
- Enhancing the Performance of Jet Engines
In mission-critical turbine gasketing, we offer products such as Zitex® Microporous PTFE Films that prevent fluid leakage across boundaries. These bondable, low-friction, and abradable products enable engines to operate at peak performance.
- Ensuring Optimal Electrical Performance in Wire and Cable
Norgard PTFE Films are extensively used in the wire and cable industry. Tape Solutions produces high-quality products that provide exceptional electrical performance for any cable construction used in military, aerospace, and other demanding applications requiring high-performance cables. Our PTFE products within the Norgard range are specifically engineered to reduce signal loss and enhance velocity of propagation.
The product range of Norgard offers both versatility and durability across a variety of applications. Norgard Films are a trusted choice for challenging applications such as aerospace, thanks to their exceptional strength, adaptability, and customisability. With access to global resources, testing capabilities, and the ability to tailor solutions, our team is always prepared and eager to meet customer requirements, even in the most demanding situations.