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Ford’s filler punch

July 27, 2010 - 00:00 GMT

KEYWORDS: Ford Motor , Germany , natural fibre filled plastics , autoplastics , automotive

Ford Motor Co.’s research centre in Germany, Ford Forschungszentrum, revealed that it is getting closer to using more natural fibre filled plastics in its autoplastics

At the recently held 8th Global WPC and Natural Fibre Composites Congress and Exhibition, in Stuttgart-Fellbach, Ford Motor Co.’s research centre in Germany, Ford Forschungszentrum, revealed that it is getting closer to using more natural fibre filled plastics in its autoplastics.

Ford is looking to use polypropylene (PP) reinforced sisal fibres, at 30% loading, for injection moulding. The 30% sisal fibre reinforced components have already passed Ford’s crash and head impact specifications.

And here’s the rub for mineral suppliers. A centre console manufactured using sisal filled PP weighs 20% less than talc filled PP. Other advantages include a 20% lower melt temperature and a 10% faster cycle time.

This will not be welcome news to suppliers of plastic mineral fillers such as talc, ground calcium carbonate (GCC), wollastonite, and mica.

Although the natural fibre filled plastic requires further development, such as odour control...

All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. © Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC.


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