General Info:
Imprex Inc. has been in the casting impregnation business since 1958. Based in Milwaukee, Wis., the company is a world leader in vacuum pressure impregnation (VPI) equipment, metal casting impregnation services, and electronic component sealing. Wherever castings of any metal must withstand hydrostatic, hydraulic, or pneumatic pressures, then they can be Imprexed. METAL CASTING IMPREGNATION Impregnation of metal casting has become a standard finishing system and Imprex has led the way since 1958 in sealing porosity through VPI systems, using resin which solidifies inside the pore. POWDERED/SINTERED METAL IMPREGNATION Porosity is always present in powdered or sintered metal parts. Imprex specializes in supplying easy-to-control, economical products that are effective for sealing powdered metal components. Imprex-impregnated P/M parts have these advantages: -Excellent Machinability - Porosity in powdered metal causes chatter, resulting in reduced tool life. When porosity is filled with Imprex resin, chatter is eliminated and tool life is extended up to 1000%. -Excellent Plateability - The porosity in powdered metal will absorb oils, deburring fluids, pre-plating cleaners, and acids that can later cause spotting on the plated surface. Impregnation fills voids and eliminates spotting. -Pressure Tightness - Interconnected porosity can cause leakage of gases, fuels, hydraulic oils, and more through the wall section of the part. Imprex impregnation fills this porosity eliminating leakage. ELECTRONIC COMPONENT IMPREGNATION Our Casting Impregnation Shop specializes in sealing electronic components. Just as with porous castings, electronic components need to be protected from moisture, humidity, solvents, fluxes, and corrosive agents. Imprex-e offers impregnation services for electronic connectors, wiring harnesses, cable assemblies, coils, sensors, solenoid valves, and more. The Imprex-e process seals leak paths between metal leads/wires and the molded plastic from the inside out. CASTING IMPREGNATION SHOP Imprex offers in-house VPI services. With a variety of VPI systems at our production facilities, we offer quick turnaround with a dedicated system for rush orders. Our facility is ISO 9001:2008 certified for high quality and reliability. WHY IMPREGNATION? Impregnation is the fastest, most effective process for eliminating the inherent problems of porosity in cast and powdered metal. Porosity can be caused by numerous factors in the design, tooling, or pouring of casting and forming of P/M parts. Impregnation prevents leakage of fluids and gases, prevents plating defects, increases machinability, reduces scrap, and increases profits. Impregnation does not alter the exterior dimensions and appearance of the part or component. THE IMPREX PROCESS Imprex VPI systems eliminate porosity by internally sealing parts through various methods of application. The process varies slightly depending on the requirements of the parts or the sealant used. However, the basic steps include removing air from the pores, filling the pores with sealants, removing excess sealant from the exterior of the part, and curing the part. IMPREGNATION METHODS -Wet Vacuum Application: Wet vacuum impregnation performs best with powdered/sintered metal. Wet vacuum offers fast cycle times and easy operation. -Dry Vacuum-Pressure Application: Dry vacuum pressure application is recommended when sealing porosity is very small and sealing requirements are most stringent. The dry vacuum pressure application provides optimum sealing results for high-pressure requirement and is the required process for compliance with MIL-1-17563B. -Patented 3-Phase Impregnation (Wet and Dry Vacuum Cycles): This is best suited to