Loading ...The summer season is officially upon us, although it seems like it got an early start at least at the Composites Manufacturing offices. No matter the season, however, companies are always unveiling new composites products.
DSM Engineering Plastics has the environment on the brain with Arnitel Eco, a high performance thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) with 20-50 percent content derived from renewable resources, depending on the hardness of the grade. The product has been designed to show a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of up to 50 percent versus oil based thermoplastic copolyesters. Being a first generation product, it is not currently suitable for high temperatures, although the company plans to address this issue in future generations of the product. The new material, which is already being sampled to selected customers, is specifically suited for applications in consumer electronics, sports & leisure and automotive interiors.
NatureWorks LLC is hoping a new online implementation will work for them. The company is making details for Ingeo 3801X, its new, high-heat, high-impact bio-resin, available by providing open source access to both formulation and compounding procedure. The aim of the measure is to spur innovation and drive biopolymers more widely into injection molding applications. The full details of the proprietary Ingeo 3801X recipe including impact modifier, crystallization accelerant, and agents for reinforcement and nucleation are openly available to Ingeo customers. The company hopes the details of the formulation can serve as a basis for research and development in further tailoring bio-based solutions.
Dow Formulated Systems’ answers, my friend, are blowin’ in the wind. The company introduced two products with characteristics and performance designed for use in fabrication of wind blades. COMPAXX Foams is a core material in the composite construction of wind blades that is designed to replace PVC foams when design conditions allow. The second product is AIRSTONE Latent Mold Building Systems: a new series of advanced solution that comprises the new AIRSTONE 715H Hardener and AIRSTONE 329E & 710E Epoxy Resins. It is meant to provide long pot-life and low exotherm characteristics that allow for a more streamlined mold production process for both infusion and prepreg molding processes.
