3B introduces food contact chopped strands glass fibre grade

3B says that DS 8800-11P is a new product that has been designed to reinforce high temperature thermoplastics such as PES, PSU, PESU, PPS, PEI and PEEK.

In order to achieve its properties in multiple applications including those in contact with aliments, DS 8800-11P has been designed to comply to the most recent food and potable water contact norms such as FDA, EC 10/2011 and relative amendments also after their 31.12.2015 more restrictive applications, as well as to BfR LII and ACS norms.

3B adds that DS 8800-11P exhibits good mechanical properties, especially stiffness and heat stability. On top of dry-as-moulded properties, the new grade shows very good heat ageing and hydrolysis/glycolysis resistance.

The optimised dispersion behaviour of DS 8800-11P allows its usage in a wide range of resin viscosities, also at very high glass fibre loading (>55%).

A specific densification process allows for DS 8800-11P optimised bundle integrity and a bulk density that facilitate its handling. As a result this product exhibits an excellent feeding behaviour with a very limited fuzz generation.

Claudio Di Gregorio, 3B Product Leader Thermoplastics, commented “3B’s focus on continuous innovation at our world-class R&D facility has resulted in a completely new product that supports expansion of reinforced plastics usage in an ever stricter food contact market. Indeed, the growing restrictions related to food contact norms add severe limits to the design freedom of glass fibre products. This normally results in a decrease of product performances associated with a higher cost and a product offering fragmentation. With its new DS 8800-11P for reinforcing high temperature thermoplastics, 3B-the fibreglass company has met the challenge to develop a performing yet cost-competitive product complying with the strictest food-contact norms.The development and launching of this specific new grade of chopped strand – DS 8800-11P – for high temperature resins highlights and strengthens 3B’s leading position in the European thermoplastics sector.”

In addition to food contact applications, 3B DS 8800-11P is designed for industrial applications including automotive (gears, bearing cages, thrust washers, etc.), mechanical engineering (rings, wheels, impellers, flow metre parts, pump components, etc.), aerospace (gear parts, etc.)