COMPOSITES | LFTs
Right: The Elaflex aircraft refueling
nozzle uses a handle produced in Luvocom LFT PA66-GF30. The PA -LFT compound offers high impact strength, even at extremely low temperatures
reinforced moulding compounds. It can also be difficult to convince engineering teams to use the correct material data cards when considering LFTs, which he says is important to be sure the right simulations and analysis work is performed at the outset of a project. However, OEM and Tier 1 engineers are becom-
ing more familiar and confident with LFT projects. “Those engineers that did a first learning phase on project one will do project two much quicker and easier,” he says. LFT performance continues to improve, he says.
The use of PA matrix resins and higher perfor- mance carbon fibre is well established but Herd sees interest in incorporation of steel fibres into LFTs to provide inherent EMI shielding, as well as using natural fibres and recycled materials to meet sustainability targets. Both can be quite challeng- ing in automotive interior applications due to the very demanding TVOC (total volatile organic compounds) and odour specifications.
Seeing opportunity The potential opportunities in the automotive sector are appealing enough for Teknor Apex to be planning a first move into the LFT sector. “When it comes to ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles, the most frequent metal replacement opportunities were to be found in components under the hood, where LFTs typically are a bit less suitable,” according to the company. “As we transition to more and more of the market space being occupied by EVs, the vehicle’s weight distribution changes dramatically. This inevitably leads to the OEMs focusing in on much larger parts that need improved toughness to impact along with high rigidity and stiffness. This is where LFTs will play a key role in the future.” The company will introduce its first LFT products
later this year. “Standard polypropylene and polyamide based LFT compounds are targeted to be launched within this year,” the company says. “From there, we look to continue to expand the specialty LFT portfolio with sustainable polymers, partially aromatic polyamides, and flame retardant LFT grades in the very near future. We also see interesting opportunities for LFT grades in conjunc- tion with our market leading crosslinking technolo- gies and overmoulding grades for 2K moulding type applications.” Meanwhile, demand for lighter, less costly, higher performing and more sustainable compo- nents is growing across key non-automotive markets extending from sports and leisure to indus- trial parts. Many of these applications call for
28 COMPOUNDING WORLD | March 2023
higher performance matrix resins with very target- ed niche properties, something that has been part of the Lehmann & Voss LFT business for decades. “We have been producing LFTs for almost 30
years,” says Thomas Collet, Director of Marketing at the company. “It started in very special niche applications. The first products we made were already modified with lubricants for tribological applications.” Collet says it was determined many years ago
that there were considerable benefits in manufac- turing tribologically-optimised parts in LFTs because mechanical strength, especially at elevat- ed temperatures, is so important to extended performance. “From there we went for other special modified
materials like very high impact resistance. LFTs have a very good impact resistance but we still modify them to increase the impact resistance,” Collet says. He cites the example of an aviation fuel nozzle handle that the company showed at the K fair last year, where he says a standard long fibre polyamide would not have met the performance requirements.
While such niche materials are formulated for performance, Collet says that does not mean they are necessarily expensive options. “High perfor- mance is a big word and it scares some people because they think they will have to pay a very high price but that’s not true,” he says. “High performance means, in many cases, just a
little bit more performance than what you had but no more than you need. Making it possible to use the plastic in an application – that’s the purpose of
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: LEHMANN & VOSS
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