Automotive - The Expert's View

May 13, 2008 - Automotive roof rails made using WIT process by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

A collaborative partnership between the automotive systems supplier Magna Decoma, the moldmaker Hofmann Werkzeugbau, the water injection technology equipment manufacturer PMA Fluidtec and the German materials producer BASF has allowed to...
May 13, 2008 - New compounds for electronics and automotive parts by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The Dutch material producer has developed and patented a new high-performance engineering thermoplastic that is commercialized under the trade name PA4T. According to the firm, its new compounds combine high dimensional stability, high...
May 12, 2008 - Compatibilizers for producing nanocomposites, microcomposites and polymer blends and process for obtaining them by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The present invention relates to compatibilizers to be used for obtaining materials called polyolefin nanocomposites, microcomposites and polymer blends, and it includes the process for obtaining such compatibilizers. Such compatibilizers...
May 12, 2008 - Transparent propylene polymer films and laminates by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The invention relates to an interlayer film made of a composition comprising at least one low crystallinity PP polymer, at least one internal adhesion enhancer, and/or at least one clarity enhancer. A process for producing an interlayer...
May 12, 2008 - Weld line characteristics of PC/ABS blend. II. Effect of reactive compatibilizer. by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The effects of reactive compatibilizer and processing temperature on the morphological and the mechanical properties at the weld line of 60/40 (wt/wt) PC and ABS blends were investigated. Amine functionalized styrene/n-Ph...
May 07, 2008 - New glass fiber reinforced polyamide for automotive applications by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The French materials producer Rhodia has introduced new high-temperature glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6,6 (PA-6,6) grade specially designed for high temperature automotive applications. These new materials that are commercialized under...
May 04, 2008 - Manufacture of flexible and impact-resistant laminates. by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A flexible, impact-resistant laminate comprises a first layer of a flexible material and a second, impact-resistant layer. The impact-resistant layer comprises an impact-resistant material interposed between regions of a closed-cell foam...
May 04, 2008 - Multi-color fiber-plastic composites and systems and methods for their fabrication by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

This invention relates to methods and systems for forming composite extrudates including at least a base polymer, a plurality of fibers dispersed in the base polymer, and one or more colorants forming a visible, multi-color pattern, e.g.,...
May 01, 2008 - Composite Engine Subframe Improves Performance, Handling of Lamborghini Roadster by SpecialChem (Article)

Interesting problems arise when sedan cars are reengineered as roadsters or convertibles. Removing the roof to create an open cockpit typically lowers a vehicle's torsional rigidity by at least half, leading to concurrent losses in handling...
May 01, 2008 - New Study Says Composites Make Sense for Hybrid Electric Vehicles by SpecialChem (Article)

A newly published study by the Automotive Composites Alliance (ACA), a division of the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), says that composites make better sense for hybrid-electric vehicles than steel or aluminum. This is...
Apr 29, 2008 - Conducting nanotubes or nanostructures based composites, method of making them and applications by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material includes a matrix of a dielectric or partially conducting polymer, such as foamed PS, with carbon nanotubes or other nanostructures dispersed therein in sufficient concentration to...
Apr 29, 2008 - Development of microwave foaming method for phenolic insulation foams by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

Many types of foams are used for thermal insulation in building, frozen food industries and LNG containment systems. Low thermal conductivity, low density, and low flammability are required for thermal insulation. Among many foams,...
Apr 29, 2008 - Insulating panel having a honeycomb core made of a repulpable material and two skins sandwiching the core and process for manufacture thereof by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The insulating panel (A1) comprises a core having a honeycomb structure of a repulpable material, and have the honeycomb structure having an array of cells, and two skins sandwiching the core, and >1 of the two skins having a layer of heat...
Apr 28, 2008 - Airbag housing made from glass fiber reinforced polyamide by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

A collaborative industrial project between the Belgian firm Quadrant Creative Moulding & Systems (Quadrant CMS) and the automotive parts manufacturer Autoliv has allowed to develop a new airbag housing for the new Fiat 500 vehicles. The...
Apr 25, 2008 - New biobased protective packaging for sensitive products by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The American firm KTM Industries, Inc. has introduced an innovative bio-based packaging that can be used to protect sensitive products. This new protective packaging is made from “Green Cell Foam”, a “green” material developed by the...
Apr 23, 2008 - Some Unusual Applications of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) by SpecialChem (Article)

As the range of materials available for use with SLS and their properties are further developed, more applications are emerging, some of which are quite unusual.
Apr 22, 2008 - New TPE grades for under-the-bonnet parts by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The American materials producer DuPont Engineering Polymers has announced the launch of new thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) grades that suit for under-the-bonnet part manufacturing. All new grades can withstand high temperature environment...
Apr 20, 2008 - Thermoplastic polymer, process for producing the same, and molded article by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

A thermoplastic polymer containing glutaric anhydride units and Tg > 130 degC. is colorless, transparent, good heat resistance, and moldability. Thus, methacrylic acid and Me methacrylate were polymerized and dehydrated for a glutaric...
Apr 18, 2008 - Injected molded truck bumper and front panel by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The automotive parts manufacturer Plastal that produces components for the truck manufacturer Iveco has chosen a long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) grade i.e. Nepol™ GB303HP supplied by the materials producer Borealis in order...
Apr 14, 2008 - Automotive window panel having polyurethane primer by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The automotive window panel/glazing comprises a transparent PC base layer, an aqueous PU primer coated on the PC base layer, and a weather-resistant coating applied on the aqueous PU primer. The aqueous PU primer is comprised of <10% PU...
Apr 14, 2008 - Innovative rail-less window regulator by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The plastic automotive parts manufacturer Faurecia Interior System has designed an innovative rail-less window regulator for the new Dodge Nitro space utility vehicles (SUV) commercialized by the American automaker Chrysler. This new...
Apr 13, 2008 - Morphology and viscoelastic behaviour of a silica filled styrene/butadiene random copolymer by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

An investigation into SB rubber composites was conducted, aimed at investigating the influence of surface modification of silica on polymer-filler interactions. Two silanes were used and compared as surface modifiers. A morphological...
Apr 11, 2008 - All-plastic bumper made using blow molding by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

An all-plastic bumper system (including fascia and beam functionality) has been designed by the automaker Chrysler Group in collaboration with the compounder Salflex Polymer (ABC Group Inc.). This new bumper system is made from olefin-based...
Apr 11, 2008 - New In-Mold Labeling technologies for automotive interiors by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The German firm Kunststoff Helmbrechts AG and its subsidiary Foliotec GmbH have joined forces in order to develop innovative In-Mold technologies providing high-class surface for automotive interior plastic parts i.e. metallic surface and...
Apr 09, 2008 - Just How Feasible is Rapid Manufacturing? by SpecialChem (Article)

Rapid production, now economically feasible in only a few specialised situations, could soon allow routine direct production of functional plastic parts in small quantities, and on a custom basis without any intervening prototyping steps.
Apr 09, 2008 - New TPU grade for dashboards by ISPA (Innovation Brief)

The German materials producer Bayer Material Science AG has announced the introduction of Desmopan® DP 3790AP that is an aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This new grade has been specially developed for the manufacture of...
Apr 06, 2008 - Bioresorbable composition and a medical device comprising said composition. by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The invention provides a bioresorbable composition comprising a mixture of at least one polymer selected from polyesters, polylactides, polyamides, polyethers, polyurethanes, polycarbonates, polyanhydrides and polyphosphazenes, and...
Apr 06, 2008 - Changes in the mechanical and thermal properties of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) in the presence of low polypropylene (PP) contents by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The final properties of recycled polymers greatly depend on the presence of impurities, which can be detected by DSC. For the purpose of the present study a total of five HIPS/PP blends (100/0; 97.5/2.5; 95/5; 92.5/7.5; 90/10) were...
Apr 06, 2008 - Determination of different morphological structures in PC/ABS open spiral injection moldings by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The internal structure of injection molded polymer blends are complex and greatly affect the mechanical properties. In this work, the microstructure development was observed for a PC/ABS blend (60/40 wt% blend ratio) that was injection...
Apr 06, 2008 - Fiber reinforced polystyrene composites by Duane B. Priddy (R&D Highlight)

The present invention is directed generally to fiber reinforced PS compositions, and the beneficial mechanical properties imparted by such compositions. The fiber reinforced PS compositions include from 5 to 50 wt % organic fiber, and from...