Home / Thermoplastic Injection Molding Blog / Achieve Better Bonding using the Nutplate Abrasive Tool (NAT) Achieve Better Bonding using the Nutplate Abrasive Tool (NAT) October 20, 2021 | Aerospace & Defense, Blog, EnduroSharp(R), Video Nutplates are commonly used on aircraft to allow installation and removal of components and panels for maintenance and repair. The use of bonded nutplates over riveted ones reduces manufacturing complexity and leads to weight savings. Preparation of these bond surfaces is often accomplished through a manual abrasion process or by using chemical solvent wipes. These methods are difficult to control and can lead to variation in the performance of bonded nutplates. Successful installation of bonded nutplates requires the generation of a highly clean and active bonding surface. That’s why Performance Plastics in conjunction with the University of Dayton Research Institute developed the EnduroSharp® Nutplate Abrasion Tool “NAT”. The NAT consists of six components: 1 each upper handle (top), 1 each lower handle (base) and 4 each nutplate base inserts. An alternative to traditional abrasion methods, the “NAT” was specifically designed to allow maintainers to quickly abrade the bond surface of CR series nutplates. The tools radially abrade the bond surface of the nutplate, ensuring that 100% of the bond surface is abraded uniformly in a manner of minutes. This new technology eliminates interfacial bond failures while increasing pushoff strength and torque-out strength when compared with manual abrasion. Furthermore, the device has been shown to reduce preparation time, decrease variability and lower the instances of nutplate failures both in manufacturing and in the aircraft service environment. The NAT is available with or without a convenient carrying case. For more information on the Nutplate Abrasive Tool or any other Performance Plastics product, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Performance Plastics at rreed@performanceplastics.com or call 440-785-7122. Share this entry Recent Blogs EnduroSharp® Products now available 24/7 on our Ecommerce Website Why Use Torlon®/ PAI for your Applications Product Spotlight – EnduroSharp® Torlon® Gap Filler Removal Discs (GFRD) What is a High Performance Plastic? Blog Categories Blog Capabilities Design Engineering Direct Gating Industrial CT Scanning Service Net Shape Molding Polymer Seals Precision Injection Molding Quality Control & Credentials Case Study EnduroSharp(R) Industries Aerospace & Defense Diversified Industrial Medical & Life Science Materials Celazole® PBI (polybenzimidazole) FEP & PFA Nylon (Polyamide) PAI Torlon PEEK PEI (Polyetherimide) Ultem PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide) Ryton TPI (Polyimide) EXTEM News Ultem Video Sign Up to Receive News! Name * First Last Company * Email * Comments: Please let us know what topics and information you would like to read about from our blog and newsletter. Submit Our Services Capabilities Industrial CT Scanning Service Design Engineering Direct Gating Net Shape Molding Precision Injection Molding Quality Control & Credentials Products & Materials EnduroSharp® FEP & PFA (Fluoropolymer) PAI (Polyamidimide) Torlon® PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) PEI (Polyetherimide) Ultem® PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide) Ryton® Support & Resources PPL News About Us Contact Request a Quote © 2021, Performance Plastics LTD. All Rights Reserved.