AUTOMOTIVE | MATERIALS
Recent developments in automotive materials include new grades for EV supply equipment, polyamides for fuel cells and a smart roof module that uses both polycarbonate and PC/ABS
IMAGE: SABIC
Driving innovation: automotive materials
Plastics have become an increasingly critical material within automotive, with its ability to save weight, add performance and enhance colour – without the need for painting. Sabic has extended its weatherable LNP SLX polycarbonate copolymer portfolio with a new grade – LNP Elcrest SLX1271SR. The new material has enhanced scratch and mar
resistance and a high-gloss surface finish to give automotive manufacturers a moulded-in colour solution for exterior components. The material also delivers high weatherability, continuous UV stability and good mechanical performance. Customers can use it to eliminate the need for paint while main- taining the attractive appearance of exterior parts over time, says Sabic. “It increases the appeal of paint-free thermo- plastics by resolving the downsides of traditional materials, such as scratch-resistance issues,” said Jenny Wang, director of formulation and applica- tion within the specialities business for the APAC region at Sabic. “An intrinsic UV absorption layer helps this new resin maintain its gloss and mechan- ical performance over the life of the vehicle.”
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While many manufacturers use thermoplastics with moulded-in colour to avoid VOC emissions (during painting), these materials can lose their original aesthetics, such as colour depth and gloss, when exposed to abrasion, impact, harsh weather and UV light. The new resin offers a new way to cut VOC emissions while maintaining aesthetics – compara- ble to solutions such as painted polycarbonate (PC) and PC/ABS resins. Sabic compared the new product against competitive materials: a toughened PMMA grade and a blend of PMMA and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA). The results showed that LNP SLX1271SR provided better mechanical perfor- mance – plus improved gloss, colour depth and heat resistance (~120°C) – compared to acrylic- based resins like PMMA or PMMA/ASA (with a heat resistance of ~80°C). As well as automotive exterior parts such as
spoilers, grilles and mirror housings, the grade is suitable for computer electronics housings and outdoor infrastructure components like solar panels, said Sabic.
Main image: Sabic’s LNP Elcrest
SLX1271SR enhances scratch and mar resistance on automotive surfaces
� May/June 2024 | INJECTION WORLD 13
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