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2019-09-19
Designing with continuous-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites
Cologne – Around the world, numerous manufacturers are now offering continuous-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite materials. However, the properties and processing characteristics of the high-performance materials that are available in the form of tapes or organic sheets, for example, are still unknown territory for many potential users. Together with a number of international producers, the LANXESS subsidiary Bond-Laminates GmbH is participating in a project group that is collecting the standards-compliant material data of commercial composites in order to upload them to the CAMPUS plastics database. “The aim of our work as part of the group is to make the performance and property profile of our composite materials under the Tepex brand more transparent and easier to compare,” explains Dr. Stefan Seidel, head of Research and Development at Bond-Laminates. “We expect them to become even more established in the mass production of mechanically highly stressable lightweight components for the automotive, consumer goods and sports industries.” The project group plans to publish the first material data in CAMPUS on the occasion of the plastics trade fair “K 2019”.
Harmonized test procedures
The work of the project group is organized and coordinated by the Frankfurt-based “AVK-Industrievereinigung Verstärkte Kunststoffe e.V.” (German Federation of Reinforced Plastics) and the “Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH” (Institute for Composite Materials) in Kaiserslautern. The aim was to develop harmonized test methods that comply with the relevant standards to enable comparable material characteristic values to be determined. Characteristic values that will be available in CAMPUS as individual values and, in part, also as material-specific curves and diagrams include the tensile modulus and strength, melting and glass transition temperature, and thermal expansion coefficient. “The characteristic values help potential users, for example, to preselect materials of composites from different manufacturers and make initial assessments regarding the mechanical properties and design of their components,” says Seidel.
Initially twelve Tepex variants online
Bond-Laminates will initially enter the material data for twelve different Tepex product types in the database. Seidel: “With these materials, we are covering the most important part of the polymer matrices and reinforcing fibers that we have in our product range.” One example of a material is Tepex dynalite 104-RG600(x)/47%, a continuous-glass-fiber-reinforced semi-finished product with a polypropylene matrix. It is used in the large-scale production of front-end supports, engine compartment linings, and tank and tunnel covers for car underbodies, for instance. Tepex 210fr-C200(x)/45% is another example. The composite material with continuous carbon-fiber reinforcement and a polycarbonate matrix has established itself in large-scale electronics applications.
Forward-Looking Statements
This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions, contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person's officers, directors or employees accept any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.2 billion in 2018. The company currently has about 15,400 employees in 33 countries and is represented at 60 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.