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Glass reinforced PLA compounds
TECHNOLOGY ‘Stealth’ turbine success
Glass reinforced PLA compounds THERMOPLASTICS compounder RTP Company claims to have commercialised the industry’s first line of glass fibre reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) compounds, overcoming the limitations of unmodified PLA by delivering greater strength, stiffness and thermal performance. PLA bio-polymers are a sustainable alternative to traditional hydrocarbon-based thermoplastics such as polyesters, polyolefins and high-impact polystyrene. However, unmodified PLA suffers from performance limitations in terms of mechanical and thermal properties, reports RTP.
“Our new glass fibre reinforced PLA compounds enhance the strength and temperature performance of PLA making it possible for PLA to be considered for much broader use,” says Will Taber, Business Manager for Emerging Technologies at Winona, Minnesota, USA, headquartered RTP Company. Available globally, RTP Company’s reinforced PLA grades have glass fibre loadings of 10-40%. The glass level can be customised to meet the specific requirements of individual applications in appliance, automotive, consumer goods,
electrical/electronics, and construction markets. “RTP Company can now produce PLA bioplastic compounds with mechanical properties that meet or exceed those of many traditional thermoplastics,” says Taber. RTP Company’s Eco Solutions portfolio includes compounds that make use of bio-based or recycled resins, natural fibres, and halogen-free flame retardant or wear resistant additives. RTP Company; www.rtpcompany.com
Comparison of 30% glass fibre reinforced compounds Unmodified PLA
30% GF PP
30% GF PLA*
30% GF PBT
Tensile strength
9,000 psi 62 MPa
11,000 psi 76 MPa
16,500 psi 114 MPa
18,000 124 MPa
Flexural strength
15,700 psi 108 MPa
16,200 psi 112 MPa
21,000 psi 145 MPa
27,500 psi 190 MPa
Flexural modulus
555,000 psi 3,828 MPa
700,000 psi 4,826 MPa
1,630,000 psi 11,239 MPa
1,200,000 psi 8,274 MPa
Impact resistance, Izod notched 1/8 in (3.2 mm)
0.3 ft-lbs/in 16 J/m
2.0 ft-lbs/in 107 J/m
1.0 ft-lbs/in 53 J/m
1.8 ft-lbs/in 96 J/m
124F 51C
315F 157C
320F 160C
415F 213C
Heat deflection temperature @ 66 psi (455k Pa)
Core material for wind blade manufacture SORIC XXF, a new product in Lantor Composites’ SORIC® range of flexible core materials, is optimised for wind turbine blade manufacture. Soric is a core material and infusion medium in one. It is a nonwoven polyester material with a pressure-resistant cell structure. The cells, which are separated by channels, contain synthetic microspheres. The pressure stable, flexible thin core can be used as an
www.reinforcedplastics.com
inter-laminar flow medium in vacuum assisted composites manufacturing processes. In SORIC XXF the transportation channels are engineered to optimise resin flow with optimal wet out of the reinforcements used in the turbine blade. It is reported to be easy to handle and supports good impregnation of the reinforcements during the infusion process. Because SORIC XXF is a combination of
nonwoven polyester fibres and microspheres it will reduce the density and the resin consumption of the infusion layer. According to Lantor, the use of SORIC XXF in manufacture of blades by the infusion process that can lead to faster cycle times, resin savings that reduce material cost, and a possible weight reduction of up to 50% compared to the traditional solutions. Lantor; www.lantor.nl
WIND TURBINE manufacturer Vestas says it has successfully tested a full-scale ‘stealth’ rotor blade on a wind turbine, which could pave the way for wind farms to be located near military, airport and other radar systems without interfering in their operations. An estimated 20 GW of wind power capacity is currently blocked worldwide by concerns about radar interference. Vestas reports that the stealth turbine uses a portfolio of radar absorbing materials that are integrated into the current manufacturing processes for turbine components and can be designed to operate at aviation and maritime frequencies. These modifications do not affect the performance or appearance of the turbines. The Vestas stealth turbine test was conducted at a UK customer site with technology partner QinetiQ and is part of an ongoing collaboration that began in 2006. Preliminary results, announced at the International Wind and Radar Forum in Ottawa, Canada, showed that a Vestas V90 turbine with stealth rotor achieved a targeted reduction in radar cross-section of approximately 99%, or 20 decibels, compared with standard turbines.
Installation of a stealth blade during testing in the UK. Stealth modifications do not affect the performance or appearance of the turbine.
Vestas; www.vestas.com JULY/AUGUST 2011
REINFORCEDplastics
Glass reinforced PLA compounds THERMOPLASTICS compounder RTP Company claims to have commercialised the industry’s first line of glass fibre reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) compounds, overcoming the limitations of unmodified PLA by delivering greater strength, stiffness and thermal performance. PLA bio-polymers are a sustainable alternative to traditional hydrocarbon-based thermoplastics such as polyesters, polyolefins and high-impact polystyrene. However, unmodified PLA suffers from performance limitations in terms of mechanical and thermal properties, reports RTP.
“Our new glass fibre reinforced PLA compounds enhance the strength and temperature performance of PLA making it possible for PLA to be considered for much broader use,” says Will Taber, Business Manager for Emerging Technologies at Winona, Minnesota, USA, headquartered RTP Company. Available globally, RTP Company’s reinforced PLA grades have glass fibre loadings of 10-40%. The glass level can be customised to meet the specific requirements of individual applications in appliance, automotive, consumer goods,
electrical/electronics, and construction markets. “RTP Company can now produce PLA bioplastic compounds with mechanical properties that meet or exceed those of many traditional thermoplastics,” says Taber. RTP Company’s Eco Solutions portfolio includes compounds that make use of bio-based or recycled resins, natural fibres, and halogen-free flame retardant or wear resistant additives. RTP Company; www.rtpcompany.com
Comparison of 30% glass fibre reinforced compounds Unmodified PLA
30% GF PP
30% GF PLA*
30% GF PBT
Tensile strength
9,000 psi 62 MPa
11,000 psi 76 MPa
16,500 psi 114 MPa
18,000 124 MPa
Flexural strength
15,700 psi 108 MPa
16,200 psi 112 MPa
21,000 psi 145 MPa
27,500 psi 190 MPa
Flexural modulus
555,000 psi 3,828 MPa
700,000 psi 4,826 MPa
1,630,000 psi 11,239 MPa
1,200,000 psi 8,274 MPa
Impact resistance, Izod notched 1/8 in (3.2 mm)
0.3 ft-lbs/in 16 J/m
2.0 ft-lbs/in 107 J/m
1.0 ft-lbs/in 53 J/m
1.8 ft-lbs/in 96 J/m
124F 51C
315F 157C
320F 160C
415F 213C
Heat deflection temperature @ 66 psi (455k Pa)
Core material for wind blade manufacture SORIC XXF, a new product in Lantor Composites’ SORIC® range of flexible core materials, is optimised for wind turbine blade manufacture. Soric is a core material and infusion medium in one. It is a nonwoven polyester material with a pressure-resistant cell structure. The cells, which are separated by channels, contain synthetic microspheres. The pressure stable, flexible thin core can be used as an
www.reinforcedplastics.com
inter-laminar flow medium in vacuum assisted composites manufacturing processes. In SORIC XXF the transportation channels are engineered to optimise resin flow with optimal wet out of the reinforcements used in the turbine blade. It is reported to be easy to handle and supports good impregnation of the reinforcements during the infusion process. Because SORIC XXF is a combination of
nonwoven polyester fibres and microspheres it will reduce the density and the resin consumption of the infusion layer. According to Lantor, the use of SORIC XXF in manufacture of blades by the infusion process that can lead to faster cycle times, resin savings that reduce material cost, and a possible weight reduction of up to 50% compared to the traditional solutions. Lantor; www.lantor.nl
WIND TURBINE manufacturer Vestas says it has successfully tested a full-scale ‘stealth’ rotor blade on a wind turbine, which could pave the way for wind farms to be located near military, airport and other radar systems without interfering in their operations. An estimated 20 GW of wind power capacity is currently blocked worldwide by concerns about radar interference. Vestas reports that the stealth turbine uses a portfolio of radar absorbing materials that are integrated into the current manufacturing processes for turbine components and can be designed to operate at aviation and maritime frequencies. These modifications do not affect the performance or appearance of the turbines. The Vestas stealth turbine test was conducted at a UK customer site with technology partner QinetiQ and is part of an ongoing collaboration that began in 2006. Preliminary results, announced at the International Wind and Radar Forum in Ottawa, Canada, showed that a Vestas V90 turbine with stealth rotor achieved a targeted reduction in radar cross-section of approximately 99%, or 20 decibels, compared with standard turbines.
Installation of a stealth blade during testing in the UK. Stealth modifications do not affect the performance or appearance of the turbine.
Vestas; www.vestas.com JULY/AUGUST 2011
REINFORCEDplastics