Improving properties in new thermoplastic compounds

The physical properties of thermoplastic compounds have made them ideal for a whole range of applications. Compounding has been a highly competitive market and the shift in the production of thermoplastic compounds from North America and Europe to Asia and the Middle East have created tremendous pressure on production as well as research and development. The growth of the sector has been tremendous due mainly to the trend of replacing thermoset rubbers and innovations in such industries as automotive, consumer, medical, electronics/electrical, and construction/building materials. The automotive sector remains the largest market as manufacturers rush to replace traditional parts with overmoulded, lightweight materials that are less expensive and more cost-effective. In fact in automotive manufacturing, much efforts and investments have been poured into by thermoplastic compounders. A new growth area is the medical market, where requirements for design flexibility and adherence to new standards have opened up new opportunities thermoplastic compounds. Higher performance and aesthetics New thermoplastic compounds are being developed and pushed the growth of a new wave of materials that respond to the various requirements in terms of design flexibility, cost-effectiveness, durability, and recyclability as well. PolyOne Corpor ation launched OnForce?LFT long-fibre thermoplastic compounds. Optimised for surface finish, stiffness and impact strength, these compounds offer higher performance and better aesthetics than similar products for use in applications involving metal replacement and structural elements. Along with improved strength and toughness, OnForce LFT compounds also retain their performance and properties across a wide temperature range梖rom -20癈 to 160癈. Further, LFT compounds offer improved creep and fatigue performance, better dimensional stability, very good chemical resistance, and exceptional surface finish when compared to highly filled short - fibre products as well as other long-fibre thermoplastics. Craig Nikrant, vice president and general manager, PolyOne Specialty Engineered Materials, explained, "We have been listening closely to what our customers say about the challenges they face, along with the innovation and materials they require to meet market pressures in today''s challenging environment. OnForce LFT compounds are another example of PolyOne''s ability to address design, processing, and market needs in developing new materials that help our customers win today and tomorrow." Frank Tomaselli, general manager, PolyOne Engineered Materials, Europe, added, "The global launch of OnForce LFT demonstrates PolyOne''s continued commitment to specialization as well as offerings and services that create value for customers worldwide." PolyOne''s OnForce LFT compounds can be processed on standard injection moulding machines, requiring no additional investment for processors. Long-fibre compounds are currently available in a range of base polymer/ reinforcement combinations including PP, PA66, and TPU resins combined with glass and/or carbon fibres. In addition, several grades now in development are based on engineering resins such as PPA and PPS for higher heat applications. The OnForce LFT platform of solutions offers highly efficient and economical material replacement for finished and semi-finished metal parts. A few examples include automotive powertrain, underhood, and body components, and structural industrial applications such as housing pumps, brackets and structural components. Plastics lining improvement Lining with plastics is a method used frequently to protect components against corrosion and chemical attack. Until now however, conventional plastics have rapidly reached their limits owing to their lack of chemical, diffusion and abrasion resistance. Adidas