At a glance
- Engineering plastics make for durable machinery parts, reducing wear and extending equipment lifespan.
- Its UV & chemical-resistant properties ensure long-term use for resilient irrigation systems.
- Low-friction engineering plastics allow smooth conveyor flow for efficient material handling.
- Engineering plastics are easy to clean and are ideal for hygienic livestock equipment.
- It makes for sustainable farming solutions by minimising waste & improving operational efficiency.
In the agricultural sector, heavy machinery is used in rather extreme conditions, ranging from mere exposure to UV rays and chemical substances to immense physical stresses in extreme temperatures. The material must keep up with everything. With ongoing activities and rapid changes, only efficiency and durability can maintain smooth operations. Where regular metals and woods often falter, engineering plastics offer reliable solutions.
Engineering plastics are special materials designed for superior performance in harsh conditions. Lightweight yet tough and versatile, these materials have become the material of choice for many agricultural applications. Whether it's machinery components, irrigation systems, or livestock equipment, engineering plastics are revolutionising farming practices.
In this post, we'll delve into the key applications of these materials and how they're transforming agriculture for the better.
Engineering Plastics For Agricultural Field
What are engineering plastics, and what are the potential reasons to use them in agriculture? Engineering plastics are synthetic materials designed for high-performance applications. Other than normal plastics, engineering plastics boast better properties, which include great strength, abrasion resistance, and chemical steadiness. As such, it finds its proper usage in machinery meant for agriculture, which needs to bear strong pressure continuously.
Key advantages of using engineering plastics in agriculture include the following:
- Chemical Resistance: Most agricultural equipment is prone to chemicals, including fertilisers, pesticides, and even fuel. Engineering plastics, including PTFE, HDPE and UHMWPE, are resistant to deterioration from these elements.
- Wear Resistance: There is considerable friction in agricultural machinery. Materials such as Nylon and Acetal are resistant to wear, meaning parts will last longer and require less maintenance.
- Temperature Resistance: Whether it is the scorching heat of summer or the cold of winter, engineering plastics like PEEK and PTFE can bear the temperature extremes and ensure the same performance throughout the year.
Key Applications of Engineering Plastics in Farming
Machinery Components: Gears, Bearings, and Bushings
Agricultural machinery contains hundreds of moving parts that are under constant wear and tear. Gears, bearings, and bushings are some of the components that go into tractors, harvesters, and conveyors. For such parts, engineering plastics like Nylon and Acetal have proved ideal. These materials provide excellent wear resistance with low friction, which prolongs the service life of these parts.
Engineering plastics have enabled farmers to cut down machinery downtime, save money on maintenance costs, and make the overall process of farming much more efficient.
Irrigation Systems: Pipes, Valves, Drip Systems
Irrigation has a major role in farming. Materials making up an irrigation system should be able to bear UV, chemicals, and high pressure. Most often, engineering plastics like polycarbonate or polyethylene are used to manufacture irrigation parts like pipes, valves, and drip systems. These materials can withstand UV and scorching Australian sun without decaying even after a long exposure time. Similarly, their resistance against chemicals ensures prolonged exposure to chemical substances such as fertiliser and other pest controls.
Engineering plastics used in irrigation systems reduce the need for frequent equipment replacements, making these systems durable and cost-effective.
Conveyor System: Efficient Way of Material Handling
Conveyor systems, whether for produce, grains, or feed, are commonplace in the agricultural sector. Materials used in these systems must have very low friction and be highly resistant to abrasion, thus allowing smooth flow. Both UHMW-PE and POM have very good abrasion resistance, along with reduced friction that enables smooth material handling without breakdown.
Engineering plastics, therefore, assures higher efficiency and more reliability within the conveyor system, something crucial in large-scale farming.
Agricultural Machinery Covers and Shields
Agricultural machinery is out in the open under all weather conditions, from direct sun to physical impacts. Many times, polycarbonates are used for covering and shield applications on agricultural equipment. Polycarbonate has huge momentum gains with high-velocity impacts and protections from UV. Thus, it has gained popularity in applications for safeguarding sensitive machinery components for efficient functioning and durability.
From tractor cabs and machinery hoods to protective guards that shield operators from potential hazards, polycarbonate enhances the safety and durability of agricultural equipment and operators.
Animal Feeding Equipment: Feeder, Waterer, Trough
Engineering plastics in livestock management aid in the cleaning schedule, are durable and include feeders, waterers, and troughs made of materials like Nylon and Polypropylene. Such types of plastics are very abrasion-resistant and easy to clean and hold up well under chemical exposure to disinfectants.
Engineering plastics will provide an advantage in devices used in rearing livestock; the equipment is going to be longer-lasting than the conventional machines and far more hygienic to the animals. It also reduces maintenance costs.
The Benefits of Use of Engineering Plastic Parts in Agriculture
The use of parts made of engineering plastics in specific applications of agriculture has a number of key advantages :
- Durability: The engineering plastics are wear, tear, UV, and chemical resistant, which ensures longer life for agricultural appliances.
- Cost Saving: Long-lasting parts can help farmers reduce maintenance and replacement costs.
- Operational Efficiency Improved: Engineering plastics ensure machinery performs at its best, thereby improving productivity while reducing downtime.
- Sustainability: Engineering plastics support sustainable farming by reducing waste through long service life and lowering carbon footprints via improved energy efficiency in machinery.
How to Choose the Right Engineering Plastics for Your Agricultural Needs
While selecting engineering plastics for agricultural use, the specific needs of every part must be critically analysed:
- Chemical-resistant engineering plastics like PTFE, HDPE, and UHMWPE for those parts that come into contact with or are exposed to pesticides and fertilisers.
- Wear-resistant engineering plastics like Nylon and Acetal (POM) for elements that have to bear a high friction rate, such as gears and bearings.
- UV-stabilised Polycarbonate (PC) and Polyethylene (PE) for components that are exposed to sunlight, like irrigation pipes and machinery covers.
- Temperature-tolerant engineering plastics like PEEK and PTFE for those parts that will be exposed to extreme weather conditions.
- Consulting with experts or suppliers, like National Engineering Plastics, will help you through the process of choosing the right materials for your farming needs.
Engineering plastics were introduced to revolutionise farming and agriculture by bringing durable, high-performance materials into farming that enhance efficiency and longevity in farming equipment. Their application, be it machinery parts, irrigation systems, or livestock equipment, seems quite important and highly needed to assure improved efficiency and sustainability within agricultural operations.
If you're planning on replacing your farm machinery with durable, long-lasting, good-quality material, then a trusted supplier like National Engineering Plastics is your solution. We offer a wide range of engineering plastics in both sheet and rod forms that can be easily ordered online through our seamless portal with real-time pricing and inventory.
Check out our website for the full product range today, or feel free to contact us if you have any queries. We're eager to provide you with the best solution for your engineering plastics needs in your farming and agriculture business.
