Feb 24 2008
The German compounding specialist TechnoCompound, will be presenting its broad portfolio of engineering plastics for the automotive industry at the next international VDI conference 'Plastics in Automotive Engeering', which will be taking place at Mannheim on 5th and 6th March 2008. A new addition to this portfolio are emission-optimized, long fibre polypropylene (PP) compounds, which are particularly suitable for use in passenger car interiors. Typical applications are door trim modules, instrument panels and supporting structures for seats.
Emissions from plastics are undesirable in the passenger compartment. They are noticeable either through the typical 'new car smell' or through 'fogging' on the insides of the windscreen and the windows. Moreover, emissions from plastics can have a harmful effect on passenger health and the environment. Car manufacturers, associations and legislators have defined the limiting values for such emissions in a number of rules and regulations.
VDA Directive 270, for example, describes the procedure for determining the olfactory properties of materials. According to this directive, odour emissions from plastics are determined by trained odour testers at defined temperatures and under defined climatic conditions. In this regard, the long fibre polypropylene (PP) compounds from TechnoCompound's TechnoFiber series come well within the limits laid down by carmakers and/or OEMs, as proved by independent tests carried out by the OMPG (Ostthüringische Materialprüfgesellschaft für Textil und Kunststoffe) at Rudolstadt-Schwarza/Germany.
For applications in automotive engineering, TechnoCompound has a wide range of engineering plastics that can also be offered with specially tailored properties and in customized formulations. This range includes long fibre polypropylene (PP) compounds, reinforced and unreinforced polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (PA) 6 and 6.6, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Thanks to its lean organization structure, TechnoCompound can sell its products at highly competitive prices. The company also offers its customers comprehensive technical advice on the choice of suitable materials and production parameters as well as help in meeting the specific approval requirements of carmakers and/or OEMs.