6 Jun 2007
NEW THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE FROM QUADRANT EPP PROMISES ENGINEERING PLASTIC ADVANTAGES PLUS HIGHER LEVELS OF STRUCTURAL STRENGTH TO REPLACE METALS
Lenzburg, Switzerland – June, 2007 – Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products (Quadrant EPP) has developed new technology for incorporating glass fibre reinforcement within polymer matrices to greatly enhance structural strength of a variety of engineering plastics in sheet and thick plate form. Because of the rigidity improvement possible, the new thermoplastic composites (TPC) will open the advantages of engineering plastics over metals and thermosets to applications where structural strength was a limitation in the past, or where the thickness of material required was cost-prohibitive.
“Thus far, we have commercialized products in thick plate and sheet form from polypropylene,” says Steffen Oellers, Quadrant EPP’s Business Manager for the product line. “We are working on several other higher performance materials as well, and after market testing plan to introduce more materials at a later stage.”
Results show that TPC can reduce the weight of metal components by up to 50%, and still deliver structural strength very close to metal. The company spokesman indicated that trials were underway in the polypropylene composition to validate performance in structural components for pick and place equipment to reduce weight and power requirements. The material is also on test in materials handling and power transmission applications such as gear trains where it brings the added advantage of noise reduction over metal components, an important factor given the 2006 workplace noise mandates.
“The material structure also provides more impact resistance than the unreinforced material,” says Henk van der Loo, Development Engineer at Quadrant EPP, “and has opened an application in protective beams for baggage handling equipment now used at a major European airport.”
Compared to traditional thermosets and depending on the glass content (40-60%) TPC offers a weight reduction of 20-30% while mechanical values can be achieved.
TPC also shows a low coefficient of thermal expansion of approximately 20x10-6m/(m.K). This is about 50% less than standard thermoset composites and allows tighter tolerances to be held in product designs.
Beyond the currently available sheet and plate products in polypropylene, the company is also developing TPC using other high performance engineering plastics, and plans to introduce them at a later stage. According to Oellers “this development will open the well-established advantages of engineering plastics, such as un-lubricated bearing and wear performance, electrical insulation, chemical resistance and lighter weight, to applications now restricted to metals solely for rigidity requirements.”
The new product is the result of co-development effort between two Quadrant divisions: Quadrant Plastic Composites, with its extensive composite experience, and Quadrant Engineering Plastics Products, manufacturer of machinable stock shapes in a broad range of thermoplastics. TCP based on polypropylene is available in thicknesses up to 100mm today, and a broader range of sizes will be available when the product is formally introduced at K 2007.
Reader enquiries
Quadrant EPPHardstrasse 5
5600 Lenzburg
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland
+ 41 62 8858 150
contact@qplas.com
http://epp.quadrantplastics.com
Notes for editors
About Quadrant EPP
Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products (Quadrant EPP) is the world's leading manufacturer of engineering plastics in stock shapes (rod, plate, tube) for machining. Other specialities include custom nylon castings and finished parts. Quadrant EPP's catalogue of General and Advanced Engineering Plastics covers the broadest range (in terms of materials and dimensions) of standard and custom shapes for machining. Products are available through a worldwide network of branch offices, technical support centres and authorized dealers.
Learn more about Quadrant EPP at www.quadrantplastics.com
About the Quadrant group
Quadrant, a global leader in high-performance polymer materials in the form of semi-finished and finished products with locations in 18 countries, generates annual sales of over CHF 800 million. The specialty engineering thermoplastics and composites manufactured and marketed by more than 2’400 employees worldwide are superior in performance to metals and other materials and are used in a growing number of applications, primarily in the capital goods industry. Together with leaders in a wide range of customer markets, Quadrant is continuously developing new areas of application. Thanks to its clear strategic orientation and focus, Quadrant has generated substantial added value for customers and shareholders since it was established in 1996 and is well prepared to continue expanding its market leadership in future.