LyondellBasell to Showcase Benchmark Products at VDI’s Plastics in Automotive Engineering Conference in Germany
FRANKFURT, February 4, 2010 – LyondelllBasell Industries will feature several new advanced polypropylene (PP) compounds at the Plastics in Automotive Engineering technical conference, which will be held on March 17 and 18 in Mannheim, Germany. The conference is organized by the Association of German Engineers (VDI). Improved soft-touch characteristics and aesthetics in automotive interiors “The Softell PP compounds used in the Astra interiors have established new aesthetic and resource-efficiency benchmarks for compact and mid-class automotive models,” said Michael Pohl, automotive business development manager for LyondellBasell in Europe. “By eliminating coating requirements, we’ve significantly improved the recycling potential of the applications.” New SGF reinforced PP compounds strengthen structural parts “Uniform glass-fiber length and distribution within the matrix is critical to maintaining the impact strength of a reinforced part,” explained Pohl. ”In these applications, our Hostacom grade produces very uniform distribution of the short-glass fiber, which offers an advantage over LGF materials that can often present distribution challenges.” By optimizing the polymer matrix and using an advanced additive package, LyondellBasell experts have produced a grade that combines improved impact resistance with unprecedented stiffness compared to incumbent materials. Other product benefits include simplified, cost-effective processing. Low-emission PP compounds meet demands of premium manufacturers New metallic MIC PP grade outperforms incumbent materials “By eliminating the painting step, which in the past has been necessary to produce alu optics, or parts with an aluminum appearance, the grade has the potential to offer manufacturers significant cost savings and reduced CO2 emissions,” said Jörg Schweitzer, LyondellBasell’s customer program manager for BMW. Characterized by an outstanding balance of impact resistance and stiffness, the grade has also met OEM requirements for low coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) values. CLTE is a measure of how much a finished part will shrink or grow in response to changing temperatures. The grade’s resistance to dimensional change under varying temperatures offers customers new performance options for applications that demand tight tolerances. PP compounds such as Hifax TRC 134P offer up to a 30 percent reduction in part density compared to other engineering thermoplastics, which results in lighter parts and may reduce total vehicle weight. The material also displays excellent durability against abrasion and scratches.
Photo caption: – LyondellBasell’s exhibit will focus on its new Softell PP compounds. The innovative resins have been selected by Opel to manufacture a variety of interior applications such as the instrument panel, the B and C pillar, and the door panel of its recently launched Astra model. This new resins enable the production of interiors that provide excellent surface characteristics and soft-touch qualities without the coating step typically required with other materials such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). Photo: © GM Corp. Further news from LyondellBasell can be found on www.lyondellbasell.com/news/newsreleases
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