Owens Corning reports that HydroStrand reinforcements provide a new level of mechanical strength and hydrolysis resistance in PPS composites. They are designed for use in components exposed to aggressive high temperature fluids such as cooling modules, thermostat covers, impellers and pumps, and provide an alternative to metal.
“New automotive technology and design are raising temperatures under the hood, generating increasing demand for new solutions that can replace metal,” explains Owens Corning Global Product Leader for chopped strand thermoplastics, Ludovic Chichignoud.
“Our HydroStrand 918A glass fibre is engineered to strengthen high-end plastics like PPS to meet these challenges, enabling customers to leverage the design, performance and processing advantages of thermoplastics over metal in the most demanding auto and industrial applications.”
Using HydroStrand glass fibre in PPS composites improves performance up to 35% after hot water or glycol aging, reports Owens Corning, and the superior hydrolysis resistance of these composites helps reduce the risk of polymer breakdown at temperatures exceeding 130°C (266° F).
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC), headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, USA, is a global producer of residential and commercial building materials, glass fibre reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems.