High Temperature Gasket Substrate
Dexmet expanded metals meet the demands of high temperature gaskets for exhaust manifolds. The variability of the expansion process allows designers to dial in a specific strength to the material for their applications. For more rigid exhaust flanges, a smaller opening is used and thicker base materials to provide optimum strength. For manifold gaskets, lighter weight materials with more open area are used. These gaskets use a flattened product to minimize the overall thickness. Materials typically used are low carbon steel and stainless steel. Dexmet expanded metals and foils are available in a wider range of widths, thicknesses, and open area configurations than any other material type.

Expanded Material Terminology 
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Industrial & Automotive Technologies 
The versatility of Dexmet precision expanded metals & expanded plastics make it a perfect choice for industrial and automotive products.

The Industrial & Automotive Market Segment comprises of a number of industrial applications utilizing Dexmet's expanding technology.

Within filtration systems, Dexmet's expanding technology can produce pore sizes to achieve particle filtration, specific flow rates and pressure drops to specifications. Primarily used as a pre-filter or a filter support material in pleated filters, flow rates typically are minimally affected compared to woven mesh when using Dexmet's proprietary DDB PolyGrid®. Dexmet specializes in expanding products from high temperature fluoropolymers (PTFE, PFA, FEP), offering materials free of harmful chemical Perfluorooctanoic Acid ("PFOA" or "C8") which is found in competing extruded and woven mesh. Dexmet's ultra-thin material process capability also allows filter manufacturers to increase the pleat density 25%, enabling filter designers a competitive advantage traditionally manufactured filters. The Company also produces a wide range of stainless steel products for primary filtration for several customers in various fluid and gas filtration markets.

Primary automotive markets include oil-less bushings, high temperature gaskets, heat shields, catalytic converters, fuel filters, inlet screens and speaker grills. Low friction, oil-less bushings are continually being placed in every moving part replacing the need for grease and lubrication points. As new platforms of vehicles are introduced, more of these greaseless bushings are being introduced. Some of the newer platforms vehicles have quantities exceeding 200. The primary material is phosphor bronze, which by chemistry is a lubricating metal, but stainless steel and aluminum are also commonly used in harsh environments or light duty respectively. High performance gaskets are also utilize expanded stainless and low-carbon steel to increase the structural support of high temperature gaskets used for head and exhaust gaskets.

Dexmet's expanded foil materials offer both EMI and RFI frequency shielding protection as well. Common applications are flat ribbon cable used in computer electronics and telecom applications, panel gaskets, electronic enclosures and various portable devices. Dexmet offers fine mesh MicroGrid® to these markets typically manufactured from copper, aluminum, nickel and monel™.

Want more information on expanded metal foils and plastics? 
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EXPANDING TECHNOLOGY™ - A Constant Commitment to Innovation, Technology and Quality
Dexmet prides itself on continually pushing the limits of machine capabilities driving us to become the global leader for light gauge expanded foils and polymers. Our dedication to machine innovation and expanding capabilities has allowed us to serve new applications, in a vast variety of industries, all over the world.