Glass-fibre polypropylene

Thomason, J. L. and Schoolenberg, G. E., An investigation of glass fibre/polypropylene interface strength and its effect on composite properties, Composites, 25, 197 (1994). 

These improved properties of HPGF grades make them suitable for use in the automotive industry, with the potential to replace metal or long glass fibre polypropylene ... 

Plastic sealed door module is injection moulded from long-glass fibre polypropylene pellets by Faurecia for the Ford Fiesta. 

Figure 13.11 Photographs of cross-sections from fihre-metal laminate (FML) panels subjected to localised air-hlast loading (a) 2/1 FML with unidirectional glass-fibre polypropylene (GFPP) layers, (b) 2/1 FML with unidirectional GFPP layers, (c) 2/1 FML with woven GFPP layers, (d) 3/2 FML with woven GFPP layers.

Peltonen, P. Paakkonen, E.J. jMvela, P.K. Tormala, P. (1995). The Influence of Adhesion Promoters on the Properties of Injection Moulded Long-Glass-Fibre Polypropylene. Plastics, Rubber and Composites Processing and Applications, Vol.23, p>p. 111-126 ISSN 0959-8111... 

Thomason, J.L. Schoolenberg, G.E. (1994). An Investigation of Glass Fibre/Polypropylene Interface Strength and its Effect on Composite Properties. Composites, Vol.25, No.3, pp. 197-203 ISSN 0010-4361... 

Yang, L., Thomason, J.L., Zhu, W. The influence of thermo-oxidative degradation on the measured interface strength of glass fibre-polypropylene. Compos. A Appl. Sci. Manuf. 42, 1293-1300 (2011)... 

Pompe G and Mader E (2000) Experimental detection of a trauscrystalliue interphase in glass-fibre/polypropylene composites, Compos Sci Technol 60 2159-2167. 

Table 3.5 shows some examples of the property effect ratios for mineral filler-reinforced polypropylene. The effect ratio is the performance of the reinforced polymer divided by the performance of the neat polymer. Properties of low-level glass fibre reinforced polypropylene are given for comparison. 

Currently, one of the most important applications is the front-end of recent cars such as the Mini Cooper from BMW, Mazda 6, Audi A6, Ford Focus and VW Polo, associating long glass fibre reinforced polypropylene injected onto stamped metal, which leads to weight savings in the range of 30-35% compared to traditional solutions. 

The contribution to strength of the glass fibres is valued at its maximum, because of the high elongation at break of the polypropylene, that is, 2300 MPa... 

Mat and continuous glass fibre reinforcements theoretically all the thermoplastics are usable in these forms, but up to now developments have concentrated on polypropylenes (PP), polyamides (PA) and thermoplastic polyesters (PET) fibre-reinforced PEEK, polyetherimide (PEI) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) are used for high-performance applications. They are presented in a range of forms from stampable sheets to pellets, prepregs, ribbons, impregnated or coated continuous fibre rods. More rarely (as in the case of PA 12, for example), the thermoplastic is provided in liquid form. 

The Ultratect foam from BASF is used as the core with glass fibre reinforced polypropylene skins for the sandwich rear seat backrest of the M3 CSL sports car by BMW. The weight saving is 50% versus a metal part. 

The (property/volume cost) ratios show that the self-reinforced polypropylene has a much higher impact resistance ratio than general-purpose GMTs and glass fibre reinforced thermoplastics but a slightly lower modulus ratio. 

Table 6.35 displays some basic property examples of long glass fibre reinforced polyamides and polypropylenes. 

Borealis has developed a high-performance short glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (HPGF) family that has the technological and economical potential to replace long glass fibre (LFRT) in highly stressed parts for technical automotive applications. 

Table 7.2 shows the properties of an HPGF (Xmod GB305HP) containing 35% short glass fibres compared to LFRT polypropylene. 

The HPGF grade containing 35% glass fibres, compared to a conventional 35% GF reinforced polypropylene, shows ... 

Tanks (by Covessa) capable of withstanding up to 100 bars made by welding three parts in glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (Twintex). 

Ford Focus is injection moulded from HPP30GR20BK, a glass fibre reinforced polypropylene allowing a zero-maintenance engine air filter. 

Glass fibre reinforced polypropylene processing scraps ... 

HPGF High-Performance short Glass Fibre reinforced polypropylene... 

Several commercial flat membrane supports have been used including polyethylene [235], polyamide [230, 231], cellulose [236, 237], PVDF [229, 238], PTFE [222, 239], polyurethane [235] and porous alumina [240]. Fibres and hollow fibres of glass [241], polypropylene [233, 234] or PVDF [242] were also employed as support. 

A comparatively new group of materials— thermoplastic elastomers or thermoplastic rubbers —combines the ease of processing of thermoplastics with qualities of traditional vulcanized rubbers, especially elasticity. Because of convenience in processing there is much interest too in blends of plastics with elastomers, which may be modified by the inclusion of filler or glass fibre. As an example, a rubber-like material that can be processed as a thermoplastic can be made by blending and melt-mixing an ethylene-propylene rubber with polypropylene. The use of such blends may be helpful when there are needs to reclaim and re-process material, and in order to obtain products with qualities intermediate between those of the main components of the blends. 

The co-injection moulding of PVC-U with other thermoplastics (glass fibre reinforced PVC, polypropylene, ABS and polycarbonate), was investigated using the mono-sandwich process and the properties determined. Polypropylene was the only polymer not to exhibit good adhesion. The mechanical properties of the other samples were intermediate between those of the constituent polymers (104). 

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