LFTs | TECHNOLOGY
Right: RTP has developed a high flow 40% long fibre reinforced PP compound for automotive liftgate applications
Development Team can customise our long fibre polypropylene materials to specific physical properties, recycled content, and cost, which can be used as drop-in replacements for prime grade materials in some applications.” He says the aim is to be able to offer cost-effective, turnkey solutions to customers looking for sustainably-sourced raw materials beyond PP, adding that RTP is already well positioned to provide similar solutions in other base polymers, such as PA6 and PA66. Long fibre technology is now an established
sector of the thermoplastics market, according to Avient. “It has been nearly 40 years since the first long fibre reinforced thermoplastic materials were introduced in the early 1980s. So the industry is definitely at, or reaching, a mature stage, especially in the commodity segment for materials like long glass fibre polypropylene, which has a plethora of suppliers,” says Eric Wollan, General Manager of Long Fiber Technologies. “Most market research reports indicate the
market for long fibre materials will continue to grow with a CAGR in the high single-digit range for the foreseeable future. Growth has always been
prominent in the automotive industry, where long fibre materials are valued for their lightweighting capability in metal replacement scenarios. The growth of materials usage is in tandem with increasing global car and truck builds,” he says. Transportation is not the only market segment
that values weight reduction. Wollan says that discretionary consumer products, particularly sporting goods, and industrial equipment are moving towards more portable devices to reduce user fatigue.
Figure 3: Long term 1,000 hour heat ageing data at different temperatures for a 40% long fibre reinforced PP compound from RTP Source: RTP Company
While lightweighting is often high on product designers’ wish lists, there are many other benefits that come with metal-to-composite material changes. Cost reduction is a primary driver and is easy to achieve when switching from metal fabrication to injection moulding production. The metal-like performance of long fibre composites, combined with their outstanding durability, also enables the production of very robust products that do not have the “disposable” connotation often associated with lower-performing plastics. He says that is an essential consideration in a world that is increasingly looking at the life cycle of materials. However, he says LFT suppliers must continue to innovate to meet changing demands. “Long fibre
IMAGE: RTP COMPANY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78
