Rhode Island-based KVH Industries turns to another local company, Epoxies, Etc., to provide an electrically conductive polymer and a structural adhesive for an innovative new antenna design.

Background

KVH Industries Inc. is an international leader in developing and manufacturing innovative mobile, high-bandwidth satellite communications systems, tactical navigation products, and fiber optic products. One of their latest innovations is TracVision A5, which brings more than 300 channels of live satellite television and music to cars, boats, RVs and motorcoaches.

Challenge

As part of the development of the antenna for the TracVision A5, KVH was looking for two adhesives. It wanted one that would hold two tough-to-bond materials together and dry quickly so that it would hold the materials in perfect alignment. The other needed to provide a radio frequency shield, and be electrically conductive. While KVH realized that was a tall order to fill, they also knew that finding the right solutions was imperative.

Solution

Rhode Island-based KVH turned to another local company, Epoxies, Etc., to provide solutions for their applications.

"We liked that they were local, because we knew that they would be quick to respond," said Mark Larson, the KVH engineer who worked with Epoxies, Etc. on the project. "They were very responsive and quickly developed the specialty products that we needed."

Epoxies, Etc. worked with the engineers at KVH to develop two highly specialized products to meet their needs. The first was a one-component, electrically conductive polymer manufactured to very detailed specifications of viscosity and conductivity.

"(The conductive polymer) needs to be applied via a robotic dispensing system," Larson said. "Its ability to keep a small bead was critical."

The second product was an epoxy that could adhere the two difficult-to-bond plastics and cure quickly enough to keep the plastics perfectly aligned. This two-part structural epoxy adhesive was the result of extensive collaboration and testing between KVH and Epoxies, Etc.

"Epoxies, Etc. definitely were the ones who guided us in the tools that we should use," Larson said.

Future

KVH Industries couldn't be happier with Epoxies, Etc. and the timely, innovative way that the company met their needs.

"Their materials guarantee that our antenna ... has a tremendous success rate," Larson said.

Epoxies Etc. provided KVH Industries with convenient solutions to its needs. KVH used the resulting products to provide a convenient entertainment solution to thousands of passengers across the United States.

WHAT THEY USED

50-3920 ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMER

Packaging

16 ounce jars

Color

Silver

Dispensing

Robotic XYZ Dispensing System

Viscosity

25ºC, cps

Mix Ratio

No mixing, one component

Electrical Resistivity

Ohms/cm .0002

10-3046 STRUCTURAL ADHESIVE

Packaging

TriggerBond 50ml 1:1 Cartridge

Lap Shear, psi

3,500

Dispensing Gun

TriggerBond 50ml Manual Gun

Dielectric Constant, 1KHZ, 25ºC

4.00

Mix Ratio, Volume

1:1

Volume Resistivity, 25ºC, Ohm-cm

2.0 x 10¹⁴

Color

Clear

Viscosity, 25ºC, cps

12,000