- 13 October 2006-
Direct compounding technology for carbon fibre

PLASTICOMP LLC, based in Winona, Minnesota, USA, says that it has used its Pushtrusion direct in-line compounding technology to compound long and short carbon-fibre reinforced thermoplastics.

Polybutylene terphthalate (PBT) and thermoplastic urethane have been reinforced with 15–25% by weight carbon fibre in early tests. Experiments are scheduled for polyphenylene sulphide (PPS), polyamide (PA) and other engineering thermoplastics. It is reported that tensile strengths of 25 000 psi can be achieved by compounding PBT with 20 wt% carbon fibre. Surface conductivity ranges of the PBT compounds are similar to those moulded with pre-compounded pellets.

Two variants of the Pushtrusion technology were launched at NPE 2006: an original equipment option on new moulding machines, manufactured by Engel Machinery for its ‘Combi’ series; and a portable unit, produced by MGS Manufacturing Group, that can be retrofit to an existing moulding machine.

With Pushtrusion, reinforcing fibres can be combined directly with molten thermoplastic polymer during the part forming process. Previously PlastiComp has only used it with glass fibre.

PlastiComp LLC; www.plasticomp.com

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