ENGINEERING THERMOPLASTICS | MATERIALS
New engineering thermoplastics continue to break performance
boundaries.Peter Mapleston finds that recycling is playing a growing part in ETP development
ETP suppliers adapt to customer needs
The circular economy is playing an ever-increasing role in decision-making processes for plastics development. Inevitably, it is in the area of com- modity plastics and packaging markets where the pressure to give used materials a second life is the greatest. But producers of consumer and industrial durables made using engineering thermoplastics are also looking to “green up” their offerings and provide customers with more sustainable solutions, by incorporating recycled materials into their products. Many ETP producers and compounders are now coming up with the goods to help them meet their targets.
Sustainability is also acting as a driving force in other ETP developments, such as new grades to take on metals in automotive applications, saving weight and cutting fuel consumption (whether the fuel be petrol or electricity). Lanxess says it is increasingly making use of
recycled raw materials in the production of its ETP compounds and composites. Dr Guenter Margraf, Global Product Manager at the company’s High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit, points to Durethan ECOBKV30H2.0, ECOBKV35H2.0 and
www.injectionworld.com
ECOBKV60XF grades as the most recent examples of products made in line with this strategy. Recy- cled fibres manufactured from waste glass make up 30%, 35% and 60% by weight respectively of these three new PA6-based compounds. The glass, which comes from waste left over from glass fibre production at Lanxess’ own facilities, is remelted and made into new fibres. Lanxess uses the mass balance approach to
allocate recycled fibres to the new Durethan products. “One point in the mass balance method’s favour is that the characteristics of the finished product – such as a polyamide compound rein- forced with recycled waste glass fibres – are identical to those of virgin quality material,” says Margraf. “In other words, using the method does not mean sacrificing any product characteristics. That means that an injection moulder can process the compound using existing facilities just like the conventional product – and enjoy the sustainability benefits of the certified product at the same time.” The primary target for the three new com- pounds is the automotive industry. Margraf cites such structural products as front ends, pedal
Main image: LatiGloss glass fibre- reinforced PA66 is used by Alpha Industrie Plastique to mould
veterinary pliers for French company Chevillot
November/December 2020 | INJECTION WORLD 35
IMAGE: LATI
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