LFTs | MATERIALS


Adding strength to compounds


The latest long fibre thermoplastic (LFT) technologies are accelerating the pace of metal replacement. However, Mark Holmes learns that other composite technologies may be closing the performance gap


Driven largely, but not exclusively, by the automo- tive sector, the process of replacement of metals by high performance thermoplastics continues to gather momentum. Long fibre thermoplastic (LFT) technology is one of the enablers of this trend, and the market is robust, according to US-based PlastiComp (acquired by PolyOne at the beginning of this month, see page 8 for more details). “Market research reports indicate that trend will continue for the foreseeable future with sales of long fibre materials growing to $4bn from the current $2bn over the next decade,” says Steve Ouendag, Application Development Manager at the US-based company. “LGF/PP materials for the automotive sector currently dominate production, but there is also growth occurring on a smaller scale in engineering resins, such as polyamides, for other markets such as sports and recreation and industrial equipment.”


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Lightweighting continues to be the driving force behind the adoption of long fibre materials. “Metal replacement is the bread and butter of applications for long fibre,” says Ouendag. “Obviously increas- ing fuel economy and emissions regulations are the driving motivation for the automotive industry to convert components to lighter materials, but in other market segments the rise of hand-held and portable devices is also motivating them to consider alternative materials. The simplification of manufacturing and product assembly is another high motivator for designers and engineers to be looking at long fibre materials, whether an applica- tion has structural requirements or needs to be highly durable, which of course is a necessity for hand-held and portable devices.” Ouendag points out that long fibre technology is fairly mature, so we are unlikely to see great leaps forward in performance but rather iterative


Main image: Demands, from car makers in particular, are driving interest in LFTs, as well as prompting development of other high performance structural


thermoplastic composites


June 2018 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 35


PHOTO: PLASTICOMP


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