In addition, Tepex continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastics, from LANXESS subsidiary Bond-Laminates, will be combined with the polyamide honeycomb cores to produce high-performance sandwich structures.
EconCore’s ThermHex technology enables the production of honeycomb cores and sandwich panels in a fast, continuous, in-line process.
According to LANXESS, Durethan polyamides lend the honeycomb cores very high stiffness and strength even at relatively high temperatures, and good thermal ageing resistance. Combining the honeycomb cores with Tepex facings will result in sandwich panels with improved strength and stiffness.
“We expect the thermoplastic sandwich structures, with their high-quality mechanical properties, to be suitable for replacing metal in many areas and thus reducing weight, for instance in motor vehicles, but also in the building and transportation industries, boat and furniture building and motorhome manufacturing,” says Hartwig Meier, head of Product and Applications Development in the LANXESS High Performance Materials business unit.