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Machine makers focus on natural fibres
Machine makers focus Use of metal-plated fibres growing on natural fibres THE FRAUNHOFER Institute for Mechanics of Materials, based in Freiburg, Germany, has signed an agreement with German machine manufacturers Berstorff and Krauss-Maffei to develop natural fibre composite materials. The three organisations plan to consolidate their knowledge of natural fibre processing and create a database on the processing of these fibres when compounded with Berstorff ZE twin-screw extruders and processed using Krauss-Maffei’s injection moulding compounding (IMC) technology. The three companies will be examining the processing of long fibre thermoplastic (LFT) composites, with glass and cellulose fibre rovings. They
will also look into processing natural fibre composites, starting from staple fibres and feedable fibre forms, such as agglomerates, Berstorff reports. According to Berstorff, there is a growing demand in the plastics industry for reliable data and technological knowhow in the field of natural fibre processing. The company says that the testing will help demonstrate the opportunities for new products and technologies in the marketplace and is particularly useful for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Berstorff GmbH; tel: +49-511 5702-397; fax: +49-511-5702416; e-mail: rehmetp@ berstorff. de; website: www.berstorff.de. Krauss-Maffei; website: www. krauss-maffei.de.
DIAMOND FIBER Composites (DFC) has expanded its manufacturing operations into a new 13 500 ft2 (1254 m2) facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The company says that this is required because of the growing use of its metal-plated fibres in various applications. “DFC has seen a dramatic increased acceptance of our USmade metal-plated carbon fibres in aerospace and wind turbine lightning strike protection, thermoplastic moulding compounds for electronic EMI protection, and various medical applications,” says Bill Cunningham, CEO of DFC. “Our initial expansion will increase our production output five fold.” DFC manufactures its metal-plated fibres, called
DFCFIBER™, via proprietary electroless metal plating process. The materials used are polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fibres coated with nickel, copper, and a nickel/ copper hybrid, although DFC also has the capability to produce fibres plated with gold, platinum, palladium, and silver as well as plated aramid fibres. DFCFiber can be used for protection against lightning strike and electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding, resistive heating, and conductive adhesives. Paul Kennedy, Diamond Fiber Composites; tel: +1-603-9644152; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.diamond fiber.com.
Widest thermoplastic prepreg tapes produced PHOENIXX TPC Inc, based in Taunton, Massachusetts, USA, has launched what the company believes are the widest thermoplastic prepregs to be commercially produced. ThermoLite™ prepregs are 360 mm wide unidirectional thermoplastic composite prepreg tapes typically reinforced with carbon/graphite, glass, aramid, or other high strength fibres. “Thermoplastic prepreg tapes have typically been produced at widths of 12 in (305 mm) or less,” says David Park, president of Phoenixx TPC. “The new 14 in (360 mm) wide prepreg is our first offering at wider widths.” “Wider prepregs will help us increase throughput on our production lines as well as reduce our costs of production,” he continues. “They will also help
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many of our customers reduce their labour costs and improve their yields.” Phoenixx can supply Thermo-Lite in a wide range of fibre types, resin types, and resin contents. Fibre areal weights of carbon/graphite tapes range from less than 100 g/m2 to over 300 g/m2. The company also makes prepreg tapes using polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethylenimine (PEI)/Ultem, polyetherketone (PEK), poly film adhesive (PFA), polyamide (PA), cyclic polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Michael Buck, Phoenixx TPC Inc; e-mail: [email protected].
February 2005
Phoenixx’s range of prepreg tapes.
will also look into processing natural fibre composites, starting from staple fibres and feedable fibre forms, such as agglomerates, Berstorff reports. According to Berstorff, there is a growing demand in the plastics industry for reliable data and technological knowhow in the field of natural fibre processing. The company says that the testing will help demonstrate the opportunities for new products and technologies in the marketplace and is particularly useful for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Berstorff GmbH; tel: +49-511 5702-397; fax: +49-511-5702416; e-mail: rehmetp@ berstorff. de; website: www.berstorff.de. Krauss-Maffei; website: www. krauss-maffei.de.
DIAMOND FIBER Composites (DFC) has expanded its manufacturing operations into a new 13 500 ft2 (1254 m2) facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The company says that this is required because of the growing use of its metal-plated fibres in various applications. “DFC has seen a dramatic increased acceptance of our USmade metal-plated carbon fibres in aerospace and wind turbine lightning strike protection, thermoplastic moulding compounds for electronic EMI protection, and various medical applications,” says Bill Cunningham, CEO of DFC. “Our initial expansion will increase our production output five fold.” DFC manufactures its metal-plated fibres, called
DFCFIBER™, via proprietary electroless metal plating process. The materials used are polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fibres coated with nickel, copper, and a nickel/ copper hybrid, although DFC also has the capability to produce fibres plated with gold, platinum, palladium, and silver as well as plated aramid fibres. DFCFiber can be used for protection against lightning strike and electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding, resistive heating, and conductive adhesives. Paul Kennedy, Diamond Fiber Composites; tel: +1-603-9644152; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.diamond fiber.com.
Widest thermoplastic prepreg tapes produced PHOENIXX TPC Inc, based in Taunton, Massachusetts, USA, has launched what the company believes are the widest thermoplastic prepregs to be commercially produced. ThermoLite™ prepregs are 360 mm wide unidirectional thermoplastic composite prepreg tapes typically reinforced with carbon/graphite, glass, aramid, or other high strength fibres. “Thermoplastic prepreg tapes have typically been produced at widths of 12 in (305 mm) or less,” says David Park, president of Phoenixx TPC. “The new 14 in (360 mm) wide prepreg is our first offering at wider widths.” “Wider prepregs will help us increase throughput on our production lines as well as reduce our costs of production,” he continues. “They will also help
16
REINFORCEDplastics
many of our customers reduce their labour costs and improve their yields.” Phoenixx can supply Thermo-Lite in a wide range of fibre types, resin types, and resin contents. Fibre areal weights of carbon/graphite tapes range from less than 100 g/m2 to over 300 g/m2. The company also makes prepreg tapes using polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethylenimine (PEI)/Ultem, polyetherketone (PEK), poly film adhesive (PFA), polyamide (PA), cyclic polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Michael Buck, Phoenixx TPC Inc; e-mail: [email protected].
February 2005
Phoenixx’s range of prepreg tapes.