Simulated stone compound makes ideal birdbath
A
RTP Company product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Aug 26, 2003
When Hiatt Manufacturing wanted to create a more sophisticated and functional birdbath, it turned to RTP Company for help in creating a product that would attract both birds and birdwatchers alike.
When Hiatt Manufacturing of Winona, MN, a manufacturer of lawn, garden and nature products, wanted to create a more sophisticated and functional birdbath, it turned to specialty compounder RTP Company for help in creating a product that would attract both birds and birdwatchers alike.
Long-time metal fabricator, Hiatt had made an earlier foray into plastics by using an existing olefin saucer for the birdbath.
The saucer snapped into its metal frames and easily clamped to a deck.
It was lightweight and non-corroding, seemingly ideal for outdoor use.
However, the single-depth bath had no water level indicator.
Its frame and dish often separated and were misplaced.
Its colour faded with prolonged weather exposure and freezing water frequently expanded and cracked the saucer.
The initial work between Hiatt and RTP Company revolved around colour.
RTP Company matched solid surface samples that emulated the appearance of granite in an RTP 100 Series glass reinforced polypropylene compound.
Inherently chemically resistant, polypropylene needed a UV stabiliser added that preserves appearance through weather cycles.
Additionally, chemical coupling agents in the compound promote the adherence of the glass and resin, boosting tensile strength more than 25% to 61MPa and notched Izod impact strength more than 50% to 91J/m.
"Some substantial forces are incurred when clamping the bath to a deck and strength is an overriding issue", said engineer John Mueske of Hiatt Manufacturing.
"This material satisfies all the requirements of our torque tests and promises to function as planned throughout the product's life", he continued.
Mueske also cited RTP Company's computer aided engineering (CAE) assistance as key to performing calculations for stress and strain in the clamping area of the bath.
"Even before steel was cut", said Mueske, "the calculations RTP Company performed gave us a great deal of confidence that the design would function as required".
President and CEO Steve Hiatt also praised the customised nature of the material RTP Company supplied for reducing startup investment costs through the elimination of fabrication steps and powder coating processes.
He plans to incorporate more specialty compounds in other existing products that the company manufactures.
"Our work with RTP Company helped us realise our goal of creating an improved, competitive, and very distinguishable product", said Hiatt.
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