LFTs | composites


LFTs are delivering significant weight and cost savings for car makers, reports Chris Smith. What was once a Europe- centred processing technology is now growing worldwide


Automotive industry demands drive LFT’s markets ahead


Automotive industry moves such as weight reduction, part integration, improved fuel efficiency and cost saving are proving to be the key drivers for the growing use of long fibre reinforced thermoplastics (LFTs). These ongoing trends, together with the rapid


recovery across the global automotive industry after the recession of 2008-2009, will see total market demand for LFTs grow to exceed 313,000 tonnes a year by 2017, according to data from US-based Global Industry Analysts (GIA). GIA’s latest analysis of the LFT market (Long Fiber Thermoplastics: A Global Strategic Business Report) identifies Europe as the dominant player, followed by North America, but the group predicts that Asia will rapidly gain ground. Noting that Asia Pacific – now the world’s largest automotive manufacturing region – was the only market to see growth in LFT usage continue through the recession, it predicts the region, which is underpinned by China’s huge automotive manufacturing industry, will become the fastest growing LFT market through to 2017. GIA predicts combined annual growth rates of around 11%. While LFT products can be based on a wide variety of


matrix resins, polypropylene (PP) is the most dominant, especially in the automotive industry where the


www.compoundingworld.com


combination of short glass fibre and PP has long been used to provide lower cost alternatives to polyamide (PA) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) in engine compartment and structural applications. The improved thermal and structural stability provided by the long glass fibres enables LFT PP to challenge engineering plastics in some applications. UK-based Applied Market Information (AMI)


completed its latest multi-client strategic study of the global LFT PP market (Long Fibre Polypropylene Compounds) last year, quantifying usage by LFT processing technology, application, geographical region


January 2012 | CoMPoUNdING WoRLd 51


Door modules in Ticona’s


Celstran LFT (main image)


featured in the interior of


Jaguar’s XJ car (above)


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