The SPE Automotive TPO Global Conference to be held from October 2 to 5, 2011 in Troy, Michigan will feature a presentation by Business Development Manager of the Chemical Division of Milliken, Wouter Reyntjens.
Dr. Reyntjens will speak on the subject “CO2 reduction by lightweighting of plastic car parts with low density TPO compounds,” and will be presented on October 5. The advantages of replacing high-density thermoplastics with low-density thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) will be discussed. He will showcase the Hyperform HPR-803i reinforcing agent of Milliken that finds application in automotive interiors. This innovative agent boasting of superior performance allows low filler levels that result in less weight, low density and minimal CO2 emissions.
Dr. Reyntjens will demonstrate the capability of one of these exclusively reinforced TPO materials to minimize CO2 emissions by 0.37 g/mile by lessening the weight of a standard B segment car by 2.5 kg or 5.5 lb. He will also display the novel Hyperform agent in an interior trim component made by Metaplast to prove its lightweight capability.
The Hyperform HPR-803i agent, when loaded at 3 to 10% in either the presence or absence of talc, can attain enhanced scratch resistance when matched with pure talc polypropylene (PP) formulations’ mechanical equivalent. Based on component needs weight-savings can be from 7 to 20%. The Milliken agent also provides improved feeding and handling characteristics for compounders and provides whiter compounds so that the quantity of color masterbatch is considerably reduced.
Dr. Reyntjens, from the Milliken plant in Ghent, Belgium, is the author of a number of scientific papers and has a number of international patents to his name.