Reinforcements | composites and LFTs
Making progress in reinforcement Jennifer Markarian examines the
Suppliers of fi bre reinforced thermoplastics continue to push for improved properties in order to penetrate higher-performance markets. For example, reinforced polyamide grades are now often vying for applications that currently use metals, driven primarily by end user demands for lighter weight or simplifi ed manufacturing. At the same time, polyamides are facing competition from reinforced polypropylene, with the key driver being one of cost reduction. Demand for glass-fi bre reinforced thermoplastics is
expected to grow at 5-6% annually over the next several years, driven by automotive, electrical/electronics and household appliance applications, says Steve Zirkel, general manager of the global thermoplastics business at Owens Corning. Fibre reinforced thermoplastics provide unique benefi ts compared to traditional materials. In automotive, for instance, glass reinforced grades offer value by reducing weight and increasing strength and design fl exibility. The needs of automotive applications are a signifi - cant driver for fi bre development. Owens Corning’s
www.injectionworld.com
latest fi bre developments and market trends for reinforced thermoplastics
248A and PerforMax 249A short glass fi bres for PP, introduced last year, are being used in automotive applications that require high-performance mechanical properties, such as door modules, front ends and air intake manifolds. It is claimed that thermoplastic compounds made with the fi bres can compete with short glass fi bre polyamide (PA) and LFT-PP. “The fi bres have improved processing and allow
users to meet increasingly high standards while reducing system cost. These benefi ts present new opportunities for PP compounders to expand into new areas,” adds Zirkel. In electrical and electronics applications, the next
Lanxess is
adding capacity at its glass
fi bre unit at Antwerp to
meet growing demand for reinforced resins
January/February 2013 | INJECTION WORLD 27
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