TAGS: Thermoplastic Composites Metal Replacement
Ensinger has developed continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic plates for applications where the mechanical requirements are too high for unreinforced or short fiber-reinforced plastic stock shapes. The continuous fiber reinforcement, usually a woven fabric of glass or carbon fibers, have mechanical properties otherwise achieved only by metallic materials. They are significantly lighter than most metal-based alternatives.
Three New Plates in Composite Plates Portfolio
- TECATEC PPS CW50 Black with excellent high-temperature resistance, good chemical resistance, dimensional stability over a broad temperature and humidity range and carbon fiber reinforcement which increases stiffness and strength.
- TECATEC PEI GW50 Natural with high continuous service temperature (170°C), good electrical insulation, fire, smoke and toxicity retardant (FST) and glass fiber reinforcement increases the mechanical properties while keeping costs down.
- TECATEC PC CW50 Black with outstanding appearance thanks to crystal-clear, transparent matrix, high impact toughness, carbon fiber reinforcement increases stiffness and strength and are as light as plastic, as stiff and strong as metal.
The new composite plates from Ensinger have densities between 1.5 and 1.8 g/cm³, giving them a similar specific weight to unreinforced or short fiber-reinforced plates. Nevertheless, the reinforcing fibers increase their mechanical properties dramatically to a level similar to metal. Compared with unreinforced polymer plates, continuous fiber-reinforced plates achieve values that are 5 times higher for both tensile strength and Young’s modulus.
Plates with Different Properties
Using thermoplastic matrix materials, the plates have the same advantages as unreinforced plates made from thermoplastic materials: High impact strength, constant properties over a broad temperature range, chemical resistance and high elongation at break. By selecting a suitable matrix material, a wide range of customer needs can be met.
Plates made from continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics can be processed into finished parts of outstanding quality with minimal tolerances. Alongside water jet cutting, conventional processing methods are also suitable – assuming suitable facilities and processing parameters.
- Low linear thermal expansion: Continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics exhibit extremely low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) in a range around 5x10-6 K-1. This property is of great importance for applications in which the parts are subjected to temperature fluctuations over a broad range and where high precision is required.
- Outstanding mechanical properties: The thermoplastic matrix gives the plates high impact toughness, with the value significantly higher than in plates with a thermoset matrix such as epoxy or phenolic resins. Moreover, the high elongation at break of the thermoplastics ensures tough, non-brittle fracture behaviour. For some applications, the intrinsic vibration damping of the matrix can also be a relevant advantage.
- Made-to-measure plates: Ensinger produces the thermoplastic composite plates to customer-specific requirements, with maximum dimensions of 525 x 625 mm. The manufacturer is also flexible when it comes to the plate thickness: in the range 0.5 to 95 mm, any thickness is possible.
Fields of Application
Fields of application for continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics plates include aerospace industry, mechanical engineering, automotive industry and sports equipment sector.
For the manufacture of prototypes and small batches, stock shapes are of interest as an affordable option for making small quantities.
Source: Ensinger