Compounding specialist TechnoCompound of Bad Sobernheim, Germany has expanded its portfolio of TechnoFiber long glass fibre (LGF) reinforced polypropylene LH E-grades with low-odour and low-emission materials targeted at the automotive industry.
LGF reinforced PP compounds are predominantly used by the automotive industry and its secondary suppliers. These are used in applications such as instrument panels, seat components and door modules.
Independently verified, the reduced odour and emission levels of LGF reinforced grades, underwent extensive testing by leading laboratories such as the EDAG Polymer Service, SGS Institut Fresenius and IMAT UVE. This testing confirmed the material’s excellent fogging and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission characteristics. Not only were values for fogging and VOC considerably below the limits set by leading car manufacturers, but the total VOC measurements were also significantly below the prescribed level of 50 µg carbon per gram of tested material. The top ratings of 2.5 and 3.0 in the odour test to VD 270 round off the PP compounds’ outstanding emission-optimised property profile. Conventional PP LGF grades only achieve a rating of 4 to 5.
Produced by a two-step pultrusion process, the TechnoFiber PP LGF HE grades are based on new formulations which have patents pending. The small rod-shaped granules contain 10-60% glass fibre with an initial length of 10 mm. Owing to the special production process, the LGF reinforced PP granules have a very high degree of impregnation. This, together with the excellent flow ability of the new grades, results in uniform distribution of glass fibres – even in thin-walled ribs.
For the processor this results in significant benefits: injection moulding can produce very low stress components and, at the same time, cylinder and melt temperatures can be significantly lower. Injection and clamping forces can be reduced and cooling and cycle times shortened. This optimises the energy used in the process, ultimately making a positive contribution to the energy balance of a car.
Characterised by high impact resistance and an excellent surface, each fibre in the compound is not only surrounded by the polymer matrix but firmly coupled to it chemically.
"The TechnoFiber odour values are excellent and have already led to much positive feedback from automotive manufacturers and secondary suppliers," states Hans-Dieter Voss, Managing Director of TechnoCompound. "The material does not require pre- or post-treatment. Our concept is 'ready-to-use', which offers many advantages to the processor in terms of logistics, reproducibility and quality.”
