GE Plastics Launches New Family of ecomagination * Products That Dramatically Cut CO 2 , Post - Consumer Waste & Petrochemical Use New High - Tech Valox iQ * and Xenoy iQ * Resins for Automotive Launched in Japan , Underscoring that Nation ' s Environmental Leadership Complementing Japan ’ s environmental leadership in responsible automotive manufacturing , GE Plastics today celebrates two significant additions to its ecomagination * portfolio : Valox iQ * and Xenoy iQ * resins . The new products were developed as a result of a successful two - year initiative at GE Plastics that examined the company ’ s manufacturing processes to redefine how its products can be made to be cleaner and more environmentally responsible than traditional materials . Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins are the essential elements of an environmentally progressive resin portfolio developed as part of GE ’ s ecomagination initiative . For global automotive manufacturers , including industry - leading Japanese OEMs , the new resins offer options to address three critical environmental concerns : conserving energy , lowering greenhouse gas emissions , and reducing post - consumer waste . Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins offer excellent performance and are created with polybutylene terephthalate ( PBT ) - based polymers derived from 85 percent post - consumer plastic waste . They consume less energy and yield less carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) in their manufacturing than traditional resins . Specifically : This approach reduces CO 2 emissions by at least 1 . 7 kg per kg of resin and saves up to 8 . 5 barrels of crude oil per 1 , 000 kg of resin . If all PBT was replaced in 2005 with the Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins , it would have created an outlet for over 562 , 000 metric tons / year of polyethylene terephthalate ( PET ) waste . This is equivalent to 22 . 5 billion bottles – enough to circle the earth 120 times if aligned end - to - end . “ In terms of both eco responsibility and high performance , Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins represent one of the most significant technological breakthroughs coming out of GE Plastics in recent years , ” said Greg Adams , vice president and general manager of GE Plastics ’ Automotive business . “ So it just made sense to launch the products in a country known for championing environmental responsibility , as well as for automotive leadership . Of particular significance , the new products are immediately available to global automotive and non - automotive manufacturers . ” The proprietary manufacturing process for these materials does not involve recycling , but rather , a novel way to regenerate and upgrade synthetic solid waste . The process also helps conserve non - renewable fuel resources while lowering CO 2 released into the environment . In demanding automotive applications such as connectors , lighting bezels , energy absorbers , and body panels , Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins give a competitive advantage by offering : Reduced CO 2 , post - consumer waste , and petrochemical use Reduced vehicle weight for greater fuel efficiencyChemical , thermal , and impact resistance Enhanced design freedomParts consolidationGE is working with leading global automotive OEMs and Tier - 1 suppliers including DENSO , a Tier - 1 automotive supplier headquartered in Kariya , Japan , to validate applications . " If all PBT was made using GE ’ s Valox iQ resin technology , it would represent an annual reduction of 1 . 4 million metric tons of CO 2 emissions . This is equivalent to planting a forest 650 square kilometers in area , which is greater than the area of Tokyo , " said Nicholas Eisenberger , managing principal of GreenOrder , an environmental strategy firm based in New York City , N . Y . , that audited the GE Valox iQ resin claims . Derived from 85 percent post - consumer plastic waste , Valox iQ resins are made with PBT - based polymers . Xenoy iQ resin is an alloy of polycarbonate ( PC ) and PBT - based polymers , also derived from 85 percent post - consumer plastic waste . In addition to automotive applications , the new GE products are good candidates for applications in the consumer electronics and transportation industries . Today ’ s Plastic Bottle Could Soon Become the Car of Tomorrow . With GE ’ s Help , the Global Automotive Industry is Ushering in a New Era of Environmental Sustainability Energy Absorber Connectors GE Drives Advanced Wing - to - Wing Materials Solutions for Displays WorldwideCompany ’ s Newest Innovation - Illuminex * ADF Prismatic Film - Boosts Brightness , Hides Moiré & Delivers High - Temperature Performance for Today ’ s Large LCD Screens GE Plastics and GE Advanced Materials are aggressively driving the use of their proprietary breakthrough materials solutions for the global electronics industry , including high - performance plastic resins , sheet , and films , as well as silicones and quartz products . The most recent success is the launch of GE Plastics ’ new Illuminex * ADF film - a high - tech prismatic film for LCDs that can boost screen brightness by up to five percent while hiding moiré and defects . “ GE Plastics is focused on anticipating and proactively solving key display industry challenges , such as the performance requirements of ever - larger LCD screens , ” said Arlene Borkowski , general manager , Displays & Optical Films at GE Plastics . “ As the only major supplier with the ability to integrate resin and optical technologies into film and plate solutions such as Illuminex ADF prismatic film , we are able to provide exceptional brightness , temperature resistance , and blocking of interference patterns . Through our full range of innovative products , we offer display manufacturers comprehensive performance and quality advantages in a range of applications with our diffuser film , diffuser plate , and now prismatic film solutions . ” Introducing Illuminex ADF filmNew Illuminex ADF film is a prismatic film that provides manufacturers a superior alternative to existing materials for LCD displays . Typical prism films often have issues with moiré due to the pitch of the prism film and the pattern of the LCD pixels . Frequently , a top diffuser and / or slight rotation of a typical prism film must be used to minimize moiré . GE Plastics ’ Illuminex ADF film uses a patented , proprietary pattern to reduce this moiré effect without having to rotate the film . GE ’ s Illuminex ADF film features excellent optical properties that are created using proprietary GE coatings applied to a high - quality polycarbonate ( PC ) optical film . With Illuminex ADF film , customers have achieved improved luminance of up to five percent higher than best - in - class competitors . Illuminex ADF film can be superior in reliability to coated polyethylene terephthalate ( PET ) film , offering performance in high - temperature and high - humidity environments due its higher Tg ( 130 C ) of the base film . Further , because they hide moiré and defects so effectively , Illuminex ADF films may allow manufacturers to avoid adding a top diffuser film , lowering system costs . GE Plastics ’ portfolio of Illuminex diffuser films and plates are used in applications such as televisions , computer monitors , and automotive global positioning system ( GPS ) displays . These materials provide both top and bottom diffuser film solutions in LCD backlight modules to help enhance performance under demanding environmental conditions . GE ’ s Illuminex diffuser films offer key advantages over traditional PET films by eliminating the coating , which can experience failures from flaking , voids , and scratching of light guides , resulting in poor customer yields . Illuminex diffuser plates used in LCD TV applications can provide an excellent balance of luminance and hiding power in increasingly larger LCD TV applications . As LCDs continue to evolve , becoming larger and thinner with an increased number of light sources , there is a need for higher performance . GE products help address these requirements , offering a heat deflection temperature ( HDT ) of 130 C and outstanding performance in high - temperature and high - humidity conditions with these products positioned for larger monitor and LCD TV applications . In response to growing customer demand , GE Plastics is accelerating manufacturing efforts for its Illuminex product line with film capacity expansions in both 2006 and 2007 at its Nansha , China manufacturing facility . Additionally , through its Global Application Technology ( GApT ) initiative , GE is adding resources and expanding capabilities at its China Technology Center in Shanghai - and other GApT Centers of Excellence in Asia - to work more closely with customers in the development of next - generation display applications . In addition , GE continues to innovate through its network of global research centers , on new and exciting emerging technologies . For example , GE ’ s recent addition of a flexible OLED system features a developmental high - temperature Lexan * polycarbonate ( PC ) film combined with a transparent , ultra - high - barrier coating to protect a flexible OLED device against oxygen and moisture damage . This research , jointly funded by the U . S . Display Consortium ( USDC ) and GE , is designed to address the critical need for plastic substrates that can enable cost - effective , lightweight , flexible organic displays in the future . GE Advanced Materials ’ OfferingGE Advanced Materials ’ Silicones business offers a wide range of materials that can add value to electronics . Among the silicones solutions are GE ’ s SilCool * thermal interface materials with excellent thermal and electrical properties . These silicone adhesives and greases can help solve the challenge of higher heat generation by electronic parts used in flat - panel displays . Benefits include higher definition and more extensive color tones . Another solution is the ECS series of silicone coatings for electrodes . These insulative , protective coatings are designed to provide reliability and durability for ICs within flat panel displays . For backlight units , the use of GE ’ s ECS 1100 silicone for formed - in - place gasketing improves manufacturing productivity . By automatically dispensing the GE silicone instead of hand - applying two - sided tape , manufacturers can also reduce part failure rates , saving money . Finally , GE Silicones ’ optical materials and coatings enhance uniformity of illumination and reduce reflectivity for improved viewing of flat panel displays . The Quartz and Ceramics division of GE Advanced Materials has a long history of supplying high - performance materials to the lighting and semiconductor industries . GE offers a full range of fused quartz materials for use in applications where high purity , low particle count , and high temperatures are required . As a supplier of such materials for state - of - the - art semiconductor applications , GE ' s products are also well - suited for critical display applications . Large fused quartz ingots can be used to fabricate a stable , high purity platen for processing and testing of display components . Large high purity chambers made from GE ' s quartz tubing provide the controlled environment necessary for the most sophisticated processes . GE also provides specialty boron nitride ceramic products for source metallization , crystal growth , and epitaxy . In addition to high purity , these materials possess unique thermal and electrical properties . GE ' s high performance heaters and electrostatic chucks for wafer processing have excellent thermal shock resistance and low thermal mass . They ramp and stabilize quickly for improved cycle times over wide operating temperatures . GE also provides pyrolytic boron nitride ( PBN ) crucibles , shapes , and various coatings for molecular beam epitaxy ( MBE ) and metalorganic epitaxial chemical vapor deposition ( MOCVD ) equipment . Included are metal carbide , PBN , pyrolytic graphite ( PG ) , and aluminum nitride ( AlN ) coatings . GE ' s intermetallic composite evaporation boats and flash evaporators are critical components in vacuum metallization . Applications include cathode ray tubes , reflectors , capacitors , and decorative packaging . GE Showcases a Complete Portfolio of Illuminex * Displays for Large LCD Applications Flat Panel Display Using GE ’ s Silicones and Adhesives High - Purity Fused Quartz Ingot GE Presents Breakthrough Research on Plastic Substrate and Ultra - High - Barrier Coating System for Flexible Organic Displays GE Global Research announces its successful development of a substrate system for flexible , organic light - emitting diodes ( OLEDs ) . The system features a developmental high - temperature Lexan * polycarbonate ( PC ) film from GE Plastics combined with a transparent , ultra - high - barrier coating to help protect the OLED device against oxygen and moisture . This research , jointly funded by the U . S . Display Consortium ( USDC ) and GE , is designed to address the critical need for plastic substrates that can enable cost - effective , lightweight , flexible organic displays . The new substrate system is currently being produced in batch mode and will ultimately be moved to a roll - to - roll process for cost efficiency . “ GE ’ s development of a flexible plastic replacement for the glass substrates used in OLEDs opens the door to exciting new applications such as portable , ruggedized , and eventually roll - up displays , ” said Hiro Ezawa , global industry manager , Displays , GE Plastics . “ We are proud of the GE Global Research leadership role in the area of OLED devices and displays , which is based on the breadth and depth of our materials and systems innovation . For example , our extensive resources and expertise made it possible to engineer an integrated , flexible substrate and coating system combining our current experience in both films and coatings technologies . ” Fabricating an OLED on a plastic substrate instead of glass offers a number of design and usage benefits . A plastic substrate is rugged , lighter in weight , easier to transport , and suitable for high - volume manufacturing that can lower systems costs . And this flexibility enables new display designs and configurations not currently envisioned in current rigid displays . The GE system utilizes the high temperature resistance and high clarity of transparent Lexan film – properties that enable the 125 - micron - thick substrate to withstand the heat involved in OLED fabrication and to allow optimal light transmission from the device . The unique graded organic / inorganic barrier coating , which is applied using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition , meets the stringent requirements for fabricating OLEDs . The transparent coating prevents degradation of the device from oxygen , moisture , chemicals , and electrical conductivity while promoting light transmission . In 2006 , again with funding from USDC , GE will focus on optimizing roll - to - roll barrier coating processes and evaluate the economic feasibility of its coated plastic substrate system in a wide variety of display applications . A 15 - cm Square Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode for Use in Display and Lighting Applications GE Plastics Helps MEGADYNE Hone Performance of Reusable Electrosurgical E - Z Pen ™ with an Array of Autoclavable MaterialsGE Plastics ’ Noryl * and Ultem * resin grades were chosen for the new 12 - use E - Z Pen ™ electrosurgical pencil from MEGADYNE Medical Products . Lightweight and ergonomically designed with both 10 - and 15 - foot , kink - resistant cords for easier , more comfortable handling , E - Z Pen pencils are the only product on the market offering patented E - Z Clean ? ? non - stick tips that allow surgeons to make cleaner cuts . The versatility and variety of GE ’ s portfolio of materials for medical device applications , combined with GE value - added services such as color - matching , enabled MEGADYNE to meet the specific requirements of this application . One of the noteworthy features of the E - Z Pen is its patented lockout mechanism that is automatic with sterilization . This mechanism , located inside the electrical connector , clicks a gear each time the unit is sterilized . After 12 uses , the lockout plunger fully extends to prevent further use of the connector and avoid a potential safety hazard . It does not require the user to track how many times the pencil has been used . This prevents possible injury to the clinician or patient by locking out the pencil from use before materials degrade to a dangerous or unvalidated level . “ We created the 12 - use E - Z Pen to provide hospitals and surgical centers with a cost - effective , reusable tool for electrosurgery incorporating a unique safety feature that prevents additional use after the lifespan has expired , ” said Michael Hintze , vice president of Marketing for MEGADYNE . “ The components of this device required a variety of different materials that could provide very specific properties . We turned to GE Plastics because they lead the industry in breadth and depth of products for the medical device sector , and offer a number of invaluable services . GE ’ s materials helped us bring this high - performance , safe , and effective new E - Z pen to market . ” Dimensional Stability after Repeated Autoclaving at 134 CWith exceptional resistance to autoclave temperatures as high as 134 C , the GE resins delivered high mechanical performance and excellent retention of physical properties after repeated sterilization . The resins also contributed to the design of a less bulky and lighter weight MEGADYNE E - Z Pen . The following GE materials are used in the E - Z Pen : GE ’ s Noryl resin was selected to mold the pen housing and the patented lock - out plunger . The most important property of this resin was its ability to maintain structural integrity during repeated autoclave cycles . The custom color of the Noryl resin grade was created by GE ’ s ColorXpress * service , a speed , industry leading comprehensive color selection and development service . Two grades of GE ’ s Ultem polyetherimide ( PEI ) resins were chosen . A glass fiber - reinforced grade of Ultem resin was used to mold the green electrical connector , whose internal features have tight tolerances . The autoclavability of this grade was critical , especially because many of the internal components of the plug are under load and can move when exposed to the high temperatures of the autoclave . Plug functionality is critical to proper operation of the device , and this material was unfailing in this application . GE ’ s unfilled Ultem resin was used to create the see - through , yellow - tinted window on the electrical connector that provides a readout of how many uses remain for the E - Z Pen . In addition to autoclavability , this grade offered high clarity as well as excellent chemical resistance and high dielectric strength . GE ’ s Ultem resins are widely used in medical and chemical instrumentation , due to their resistance to chemicals and heat , and good dimensional stability . Equally as important as its materials , GE provided several services to enable resin selection , color - matching , and process optimization . According to Darcy Greep , E - Z Pen project engineer at MEGADYNE , “ GE helped our molder to overcome some process issues very rapidly . And their ColorXpress colormatch service was awesome . GE ’ s response time to critical deadlines was fantastic and their ability to precisely match to our color was excellent . ” Clare Frissora , market director for Healthcare at GE Plastics said , “ This application is a great illustration of how GE ’ s broad scope of materials and range of services facilitates the application development process for designers and device manufacturers . Instead of going from one manufacturer to another for specific material properties , MEGADYNE was able to find the right resins for three very different components – including custom coloring – from one source . GE Plastics ' extensive materials portfolio and industry - leading expertise enable manufacturers to save time and effort in designing new products . ” New 12 - Use E - Z Pen ™ Electrosurgical Pencil from MEGADYNE Medical Products Featuring GE ’ s Noryl * and Ultem * Resins GE Plastics Provides Cost - Efficient Source for Diverse Resins Featured in Multi - Function Aisys Anesthesia Delivery System The state - of - the - art Aisys Carestation anesthesia delivery system from GE Healthcare is a demonstration of sophisticated technology in a versatile device . It is the first GE anesthesia solution to integrate electronic gas and agent control as well as delivery with advanced ventilation , vital signs monitoring , and an Advanced Breathing System ( ABS ™). However , its success in the healthcare marketplace also rides on such practical factors as cost - effectiveness and durability . To achieve these goals , GE Healthcare sought a materials supplier that could efficiently meet diverse application requirements ranging from chemical resistance for work surfaces , light weight for drawer doors , and transparency for the gas scavenger system . GE Plastics was able to supply multiple materials from its diverse product portfolio to meet these needs while providing value - added services such as material selection and application development support . “ Patient safety and accuracy are paramount with anesthesia delivery , but hospitals also have to consider cost , maintenance , and durability when they invest in a delivery system , ” said Pedro Torres , strategic sourcing leader , GE Healthcare . “ By working with one resin supplier on multiple components of this system , we aimed to achieve savings in cycle time and cost . The key was finding a vendor to meet the wide range of performance needs – and GE Plastics , with its extensive product portfolio , facilitated the identification and selection of materials for different component requirements . But GE Plastics wasn ’ t an automatic shoe - in just because they are a GE business . They had to prove themselves just like any other supplier . ” The GE Aisys perioperative care station integrates devices , therapies , and information systems at the point of need . Superior ventilation and full monitoring of vital signs are combined with GE clinical information systems to help hospitals provide safe and accurate care for patients . The Aisys Carestation integrates with hospital information systems and GE Centricity ™ anesthesia systems , which collects and documents anesthesia delivery and physiological data . This consistent record of a patient ' s status contributes to informed decision - making while improving hospital efficiency . Because anesthesiologists work in a very tight space , the all - in - one Aisys Carestation was designed to provide a reduced footprint . To maximize mobility and reduce clutter , the device offers innovative features such as CableCare , an innovative cable management solution , and INview ™ Patient Displays mounted on a moveable arm with 360 degrees of rotation . Three different high - performance GE resins are used in the Aisys device : GE ’ s foamable Noryl * resin enables the creation of lightweight vertical panels and drawer doors that aid in the maneuverability of the care station in the operating room and throughout the facility . Although lightweight , the Noryl resin components maintain their structural integrity over the life of the system . GE ’ s transparent Ultem * resin forms the reservoir of the gas scavenger system . The material offers good chemical resistance to anesthesia agents and cleaning products , as well as strength and dimensional stability . GE ’ s durable Valox * resin provides exceptional chemical resistance for horizontal surfaces – the top shelf and work area – that are exposed to a variety of cleaners , and the cassette bay that comes in contact with anesthesia agents . This resin also has excellent colorability . “ Using the same supplier for multiple resins in a given application can provide a competitive advantage to medical device manufacturers by streamlining the specification process , ” said Clare Frissora market director for Healthcare at GE Plastics . “ GE Plastics offers a broad portfolio as well as a number of value - added services , and is well - positioned to enable development of complex systems like the Aisys Carestation . Plus , leveraging the combined expertise of two top GE businesses resulted in this true next - generation application , ” Frissora said . All - in - one Aisys Carestation Anesthesia Delivery System from GE HealthcareGas Scavenger System Reservoir for the Aisys Carestation Made of GE ’ s Ultem * Resin