materials news
DCPD grades offer lower emissions BUILDING ON the success of its
styrene emissions has been the
reduce fibre print-through.
Enydyne series of dicyclopenta-
main driver for fabricators con-
diene (DCPD) resins, Cray Valley is developing new products
verting
company has shown that increasing the DCPD content of
which
offer further
reductions
in styrene emissions. Speaking at the British Plastics Federation
to
DCPD
resins.
The
Enydyne products are said to offer reduced styrene emissions, together
with
improved
fibre
The
Cray Valley is also developing gel-coats with reduced VOC content, recognising that gelcoat emissions could represent
the resin base and decreasing the volatile compound organic (VOC) content results in
up to 50% of total workshop emissions. As with the Enydyne 2000 resins, the company has been striving to reduce emis-
(BPF)‘s Composites 2000 conference in Hinckley, UK, last
wet-out, higher filler loadings, reduced fibre print-through, and the rapid cure. Although
reduced styrene emissions from Enydyne 2000 compared with grades
sions by lowering VOC content
month, Paul Darby of Cray Valley Structural Resins said test
mechanical properties of DCPD resins may not be as good as say
under hand lay-up and spray-up conditions.
while maintaining performance properties. The reduced emis-
the
original
Enydyne
marketing of the new Enydyne
iso-type resins they are adequate
A range of high DCPD con-
sions seen with the low VOC
2000 products is going well and
for many applications
such as
tent resins in now being devel-
gel-coats are achieved through
the company is hoping they will
shower tray casting, tanks/inter-
prove to be as successful as the first series.
oped including a marine grade, a moulding general purpose
improved transfer efficiency and reduced VOC loss on cure.
The original Enydyne DCPD
ceptors, general purpose moulding, acrylic baths, polymer contransfer crete and resin
resins, launched in 1995, have been welI received in the UK
moulding (RTM). In developing the Enydyne
market around
2000 products Cray Valley’s objectives were to reduce styrene improve emissions further,
and now account for half of Cray Valley’s
polyester resin sales. Darby noted that legislation limiting
mechanical
properties
and
grade, and a low viscosity grade
Compared
for non-reinforced applications. The products have VOC con-
Polycor iso gel-coat the low VOC grade gives a lo-15% gain in
tents of 35%, tensile strengths of
transfer efficiency, but is said to
SO-65 MPa, tensile moduli of 2.8-3.2 GPa, elongations of 1.8-
maintain ease of application and performance properties. Cray Valley; tet: +44-1469-
2.5%, and heat distortion
tem-
peratures (HDT) of 60-62°C.
with
a
standard
572464; fax: +44-1469-572988.
Long fibres prevent warping component AUTOMOTIVE manufacturer Leopold Kostal of Ludenscheid, Germany, is using long
glass
fibre
reinforced
polypropylene (PP) from polymer manufacturer Ticona to produce warp-free control unit boxes. The boxes shield electronic systems from dust and moisture inside engine compartments. Long glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (PP) was chosen because long fibres orientate less than short fibres during injection moulding and therefore produce a dimensionally stable part. Ticona’s Celstran PP-GF 40 was found to be the most suitable material. In addition to the
THE ENQUIRY NUMBER
16
REINFORCEDplastics
FOR THIS ADVERTISEMENT
December
2000
IS 336
benefits associated with long fibres such as of low warpage and increased dimensional stability, it does not absorb any water, is low in weight and reduces noise in car interiors. According to Ticona, Celstran has a high impact strength even
(D”“*‘““““1” DaimlerChrysler control unit
at extremely low temperatures, which is an important safety feature for automotive parts. Celstran contains 10 mm long reinforcing fibres, which give high resistance to stress. Pellets are produced in a patented pultrusion process that is said to impregnate the reinforcing fibres without causing any damage and ensure that each individual filament is thoroughly coated. +49-69-305Ticona; te/: 4485; e-mail:
fax:
+49-69-305-83194;
[email protected];
site: www.ticona.com.
web-