Prevention from fatigue
- Dynamic service life increased multiple times in specific load cases
- Highly reinforced products in development
- Economical alternative to polyamide 66
Cologne, November 29, 2018: Particularly in the case of plastic parts under car hoods, the requirements for long-term resistance to cyclic mechanical loads, also known as fatigue strength, are increasing. Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is therefore building a new polyamide 6 product range called Durethan Performance. The different grades are several times more resistant to fatigue under pulsating loads than standard products with the same glass fiber content. The first products in the product range are the thermally stabilized Durethan BKV30PH2.0, BKV35PH2.0, and BKV40PH2.0 compounds with glass fiber contents of 30, 35, and 40 percent, as well as the impact resistant modified Durethan BKV130P compound, which is reinforced with 30 percent glass fiber. The “P” in the product name refers to “Performance”.
Focus on engine compartment applications, light-weight structures, and power tools
“With these new products, we are targeting applications in automobiles, such as air-intake systems and oil-filter modules or parking brakes. There is also great application potential for housing and structural components of power tools, such as drilling or grinding machines. And with regard to the furniture industry, for example, parts of furniture locking systems could be manufactured from the impact-resistant modified product type,” explains Dr. Thomas Linder, an expert in materials development of Durethan at LANXESS. In addition to the dynamic behavior, the static mechanical profile of the new construction materials has also been improved. For example, they offer more tensile strength at higher temperatures than standard products with the same glass fiber content. “Its mechanical properties makes the polyamide 6 based Durethan Performance in many cases an alternative material for polyamide 66 compounds, which have become much more expensive in recent years. This substitution can often be carried out without increasing the glass fiber content, so that no higher material density and thus a higher component weight need to be accepted,” explains Linder.
Extensive Wöhler experiments
LANXESS has investigated the dynamic behavior of the new compounds on a demonstrator resembling lightweight structural components. This so-called HiAnt element is an injection-molded U-shaped profile that is reinforced on the inside with crosswise ribs. Among other tests, three-point-bending fatigue Wöhler experiments were carried out with this practically oriented test specimen. Linder: “In these tests, for example, Durethan BKV30PH2.0 showed a service life around three times longer than a standard polyamide 6 material with 30 percent glass fiber reinforcement at a bending load of 2.75 kilonewtons.”
Tailor-made for highly stressed structural components
LANXESS plans to further expand the Durethan Performance product family. For example, two compounds with 50 and 60 percent glass fiber reinforcement are about to be launched on the market. “With their high strength and rigidity, these materials are particularly suitable for dynamically loaded structural components – for example, in lightweight automotive construction for carriers of electrical and electronic modules,” explains Linder.
HiAnt – support along the entire component development process
LANXESS supports customers in the development of cyclically highly stressed components from the concept phase through component and tool design to the start of production. These services are bundled under the name HiAnt. For example, numerous component tests are offered. “In addition to our servo-hydraulic tensile testing machines for the determination of Wöhler curves we have at our disposal a shaker testing facility, which is primarily designed for testing vibrations for vehicle applications, and covers all common vibration and shock tests,” says Linder. LANXESS also carries out pressure threshold tests on components from the vehicle cooling circuit and pressure change and backfire tests on intake modules, for example.
Forward-Looking Statements
This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions, contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person’s officers, directors or employees accept any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 9.7 billion in 2017 and about 19,200 employees in 25 countries. The company is currently represented at 74 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.
Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)
