The RPC Studding Clip - Technical and Physical Attributes

A. General Attributes

The RPC STUDDING CLIP is a unique one-piece design manufactured from a composite polyamide alloy combining strength with lightweight.

The RPC STUDDING CLIP has various applications in the air conditioning, refrigeration and electrical industries but primarily it will overcome the problems of using cable ties for piping and electrical, optical and network cabling.

The RPC STUDDING CLIP is designed to be extremely quick and simple to use and to fit conventional 10mm and 12mm (European standard) and 3/8" (US Standard) studding. The clip makes a very solid connection with the relevant studding and will not move up or down, although it can be adjusted up or down for fine-tuning by screwing it around the studding as if it were a nut.

The RPC STUDDING CLIP, being a one piece moulding, is a major time saver in the installation of air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing pipe-work and electrical conduit compared with competing products which are either made up of several components or, as in the case of cable ties, technically deficient.

B. Material Specification

1. General The RPC STUDDING CLIP is manufactured from a composite polyamide (nylon) alloy, which has similar tensile strength properties to nylon but with much superior impact strength especially at low temperatures. It will function with no noticeable change in its general attributes within a temperature range from -40° C to +140° C. Much of the technical information with regard to the material is contained in several graphs prepared by the raw material manufacturer. To the extent, this information is required by a customer, Rapid Positioning Clips Limited will supply copies. Where these graphs are available, it is indicated in the following comments by "MGA" (manufacturer's graph available).

2. Rigidity and Tensile Performance In cases of material fatigue, resistance to stress-cracking is greater than standard polyamides. As for all polyamides, flexural rigidity of the RPC STUDDING CLIP drops between 20° C and 80° C, although within this range it is much more rigid than a standard P6 polyamide. (MGA) It has nylon tensile properties but with a superior impact strength. There is less than 4% deformation under stresses of up to 40 MPa (Mega Pascals). (MGA)

3. Creep The RPC STUDDING CLIP has a high resistance to mechanical stress creep. Graphs are available showing the creep at various temperatures under a load of 4 MPa. (MGA)

4. Chemical resistance The RPC STUDDING CLIP has greater chemical resistance than other polyamides. It withstands all known solvents, hydrolysis, battery acids, salt solutions, etc.

5. Moisture sensitivity The RPC STUDDING CLIP has a low moisture sensitivity. It has dimensional stability, stable mechanical properties and better rigidity in equilibrium than with standard polyamides. It has both stable electrical and vibration properties and is a very good seal to water, solvents and gases.

6. Ageing The RPC STUDDING CLIP has less yellowing at higher temperatures than standard polyamides. It also has a good resistance to UV light.

7. Melting point and flammability The RPC STUDDING CLIP has a melting point of 220° C and a UL94 (Underwriters' Laboratory) rating of HB. As the clip is carrying non-combustible pipes which are generally fixed (via the Unistrut channel) to masonry or similar non-combustible structures and are adequately spaced at 1000mm centres, there should be no flame spread from one set of supports to another. Under these conditions any toxic emission from the RPC STUDDING CLIP would be insignificant.

C. Physical Pull and Slip Tests

We have carried out some informal weight tests for horizontal pull and vertical slip. The vertical slip down the studding started at 70lbs and the horizontal (perpendicular from the studding) breaking point was in excess of 120lbs - a multiple of any normal operational strains. We should emphasise that these tests were not carried out with sophisticated laboratory testing equipment but they do demonstrate the general strength of the clip.

ERA Technology Limited, world-wide research, development and testing specialists will be carrying out supervised pull and slip tests at their laboratories.