TECHNOLOGY | REINFORCEMENTS
ŠKODA Scala compact car as well as the automaker’s latest Kamiq urban SUV.
Mixing in nano-scale Nano-materials such as clays and more recently graphene have long shown promise in terms of reinforcement. However, achieving the level of dispersion required to fully exploit the benefits of their structure has presented a challenge. New nano-compounding technology from Gneuss may provide a solution. It says incorporation of nano scale fillers is problematic because the powders frequently contain agglomerates. In addition, the handling of extremely fine powders requires extensive safety measures. Nano scale additives are characterised by an
Above: Borealis has added more compounding capacity in the US to serve automotive customers
typically contain between 30-60% fibre reinforcement, depending on polymer and grade. Solvay sees the Xencor LFT compounds bridging the price-to-performance gap between short fibre thermoplastics and advanced composite materials. Key attributes include high strength, outstanding crash/impact performance, thermal stability, low creep, and easy processing characteristics. “Xencor compounds are designed to replace metal in semi-structural applications that require greater performance than is attainable with SFT products and where metal is not a desirable option due to weight or per part cost,” says Eric Martin, Global Manager for Xencor LFT compounds for Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit. Meanwhile, Borealis has commenced
production at a new compounding plant at Taylorsville in North Carolina where it is producing thermoplastic olefin (TPO) and short glass fibre reinforced compounds. The 4,600m2
plant is said
to be well positioned to serve automotive customers in the southeast of the US and adds a further 30,000 tonnes to the Borealis/Borouge global PP compounding capacity. The company has also added a new material to its low-density PP portfolio for interior applications—Daplen EE058AI. “The 10% talc-filled and elastomer-modified high-purity grade is designed to meet the latest OEM requirements for automotive interior applications with low odour, emission and fogging levels, while offering significant weight savings,” says Nicholas Kolesch, Head of Automotive Marketing for Borealis. “It combines an excellent balance of stiffness and impact strength with class A aesthetic surfaces and high scratch resistance.” The first commercial interior applications for Daplen EE058AI include lower dashboard, glove box and centre console mouldings in the new
52 COMPOUNDING WORLD | November 2019
extremely high surface area in relation to their mass. This characteristic can be used to significantly improve mechanical and other key material properties at low filler addition levels if sufficiently well dispersed, which Gneuss says its Nano Compounding Technology can achieve. The company’s technology was covered in detail
in the October edition of Compounding World. In essence, it exploits the devolatilisation capability of the company’s MRS multiple screw extruder to allow the introduction of nanoparticles (less than 100nm) into the polymer during compounding in a aqueous liquid suspension. The particles are much more easily dispersed in water, which also safely contains them so making handling less hazardous. The process involves plastification of the polymer followed by the introduction under pressure of the aqueous nano-particle suspension before subsequent devolatilisation of the water. For a mixture of polymer (greater than 70%) and suspension (less than 30%), this final step can be achieved in less than five seconds, the company says, leaving the nano-particles fully dispersed but completely embedded in the polymer.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.byk.com �
www.michelman.com �
www.procotex.com �
www.sglcarbon.com �
www.elgcf.com �
www.techmerpm.com �
www.ornl.gov �
www.lanxess.com �
www.polyone.com �
www.jm.com �
www.solvay.com �
www.borealisgroup.com �
www.gneuss.com
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: BOREALIS
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