This article will provide a brief introduction to the Armstrong Fluid Technology industry, talk about what Armstrong does, and how it all works. Armstrong has been providing productivity solutions to the world since 1854. In that year lard oil was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania but instead of being an instant success, it took until 1890 for crude oil to take off. The discovery would catapult the company into rapid growth and would soon lead them into the Fluid Technology Industry.
By the 1900's they had grown and expanded around the world with offices in Europe and Asia. They had a strong focus on being a "Global Resource" with factories set up in North America, England, and Australia. The 1920s brought great waves of expansion as their factories were built all over Europe, Latin America, and Africa. They would become truly global by the 1960's having offices all over the globe. By the 1990s Armstrong had diversified into areas other than oil & gas; they were oil & gas pioneers but now have operations in many different industries such as food & beverages, chemicals, medical devices, electronics, and even space technology.
What does Armstrong do?
Armstrong is the world's largest manufacturer of plastics, rubbers, and specialty resins for a variety of industries including the oil and gas sector. Within the Oil & Gas industry, Armstrong focuses on providing fluid technology solutions that help their clients increase overall production, decrease costs, and reduce environmental impact. They are one of only two companies in the world capable of producing long-chain polymers as well as copolymers. These long chain polymers can be used in almost everything from hydraulic fluids and drilling fluids to gels and sealants used to control flow or prevent leaks. The vast majority of Armstrong's products are based on what they call "copolymer chemistry".
What is "Copolymer Chemistry"?
Armstrong's products are based on copolymer chemistry, which is simply using more than one polymer in one product. This helps them to balance their product portfolio and cater to the multiple needs of their customers. For example, they can have a gel that is thick enough for drilling fluids but not so thick as to be useless as a sealant. A copolymer is made up of two different polymers with drastically different properties. For example, Armstrong uses a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) as the core molecule for their gels.
What is a Thermoplastic Elastomer?
A thermoplastic elastomer is a soft rubber-like polymer that can be stretched 200% to 400% of its original length and normally will return to its original form. Armstrong's TPE can withstand temperatures up to 450°F and holds up well against chemicals found in the drilling environment. The most common TPE used by Armstrong is styrene butadiene or "SBR ''. SBR is derived from two monomers, styrene, and butadiene, which are simply long chains of organic molecules. When these long chains are combined and heated, they form polymers which result in the TPE synthesis.
What is "Copolymer Chemistry"? (Flexible Version)
Armstrong's products are polymers with different properties than their non-copolymer counterparts. Since the polymers they use are not the same, they can be used to achieve different results in different circumstances. Armstrong primarily uses copolymers based around styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). Both of these polymers are produced from long chains of organic molecules. When you polymerize these chains by heating them, you get SBR and NBR; both of which can be used as core polymers for your Armstrong product.
Conclusion
The Armstrong Fluid Technology Industry is a tough, challenging, and rapidly changing business. To do well in the industry you need to be a well-rounded company that can adapt to the changing needs of your customers. You must offer low standard prices because companies like Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes have giant R&D departments that can make many small changes to their products quickly. Finally, you must make good products otherwise it will be impossible to convince customers to try your inferior product over a competitor's superior product. Armstrong has consistently been able to meet all these challenges head-on.
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