thermoplastic composites | Fibre developments RTP targets LFT performance with XP
US-headquartered compounder RTP Company recently launched RTP 100 eXtra Performance (XP) Compounds, which it describes as a series of thermo- plastic compounds formulated for higher strength, modulus and impact properties than any standard chopped fibreglass polypropylene (PP) compounds available on the market today. “With strength, stiffness, and impact
resistance performance that is close to RTP’s Very Long Fibre (VLF) compounds,
combined with the lighter weight and chemical resistance of standard PP compounds, RTP 100 XP Compounds provide a new realm of design possibili- ties for applications in the automotive, furniture, appliance, storage, industrial/ construction, electronics, and energy markets,” the company claims. In comparison to common glass fibre
reinforced PP at similar load levels, RTP 100 XP Compounds exhibit up to 20% higher modulus values and twice the
fibre sizing and chopping line this January. “Extensive tests both in house and at external labs
followed by production scale tests at different compound- ers showed that the properties of our recycled carbon fibres are almost identical to virgin grade fibres,” says Procotex. “The mechanical properties of our recycled fibres are even better than non-sized virgin grade carbon fibres, and this at a lower cost.” The company also offers sizings customized to customer requirements. Dieter Henau, the company’s sales manager, adds
that the company is also responding to increasing demand for the use of natural fibres in compounds. “As the application of natural fibres comes with different challenges as temperature resistance and more importantly dosing and mixing in the extruder, Procotex developed a new range of short milled natural fibres (flax, kenaf, jute, coco, hemp,…) and a flax fibre pellet,” he says. “Flax fibre pellets are easy to dose, do not generate dust and offer tremendous mechanical reinforcement in, for example, PP compounds.”
The basalt alternative Basalt fibre is a possible alternative to glass in some high performance applications, according to Mafic, which says it is the only vertically integrated manufac- turer of basalt fibre and long fibre thermoplastics.
Sizing and compatibility chart for Procotex recycled sized carbon fibre reinforcements Product [sizing] (%)
Compatibility
CF.OS.U1 3.5 ± 1.0 PA6, PA66, polar thermoplastics & thermoset resins CF.OS.U2 3.5 ± 1.0 CF.OS.A 3.5 ± 1.0 CF.OS.I
3.5 ± 1.0
CF.OS.P 3.5 ± 1.0 Source: Procotex
40
PA6, PA66, PET, PBT, PMMA, Thermoset resins PA6, PA 66, PPA, PAA, PET, PBT, PMMA, PPS PA6, PA 66, PEEK, PEI, PPS, PI, PC PE, PP, ABS, Non polar polymers
impact resistance. Due to their inherent chemical resistant properties and non-hygroscopic nature, the compounds are also seen as an alternative to compounds based on polyamides or other compounds where moisture can reduce load bearing capabilities. The new compounds are available as
standard pellets in formulations contain- ing from 10-50% by weight glass fibre reinforcement. ❙
www.rtpcompany.com
Basalt fibre is a natural fibre derived from basalt
rock. Mafic says it presents a potential alternative to carbon and glass fibres in composite products and the company recently announced the introduction of a basalt-based long fibre-reinforced thermoplastic (LFT). The new product extends the company’s growing line of Hoplite fibreglass reinforced LFT compounds. “We are confident that the new basalt fibre line of
products will complement our existing fibreglass based LFT,” says Mafic marketing manager Jeff Thompson. “Basalt’s improved performance characteristics will help the industry expand an already rapidly growing thermoplastic applications market by providing better tensile and heat resistant properties. We expect basalt LFT to offer higher tensile and impact properties allowing automotive engineering to further expand their lightweighting initiatives.”
Try it for size At sizing company Michelman, industry manager Gilles Le Moigne reports on how the company is responding to what he says is a constant demand to get higher mechanical performance, thermal and hydrolysis resistance of glass fibre reinforced thermoplastics. The company recently introduced several fibre sizings that it says meet automotive composite manufacturers’ needs for heat stability and hydrolytic resistance. These include Hydrosize U2-04, a water-based polyurethane dispersion compatible with polyamide resins, Hydrosize PA846, a water-based polyamide dispersion that is highly stable and offers good thermal resistance, FGlassX 91 EMA, a film former offering compliance with EU Commission Regulation 10/2011 on plastics materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, and Hydrosize U9-01, a water-based blocked isocyanate that enhances the reactivity of the interface between the fibre and the resin. Le Moigne also says Michelman has begun an R&D
INJECTION WORLD | January/February 2016
www.injectionworld.com
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