Automobile lightweighting is a concern for both consumers and automakers. In order to achieve the goal of lightweighting, in addition to optimizing the structure and process design, the selection of materials is also very critical. In order to reduce the weight of cars, car companies use a lot of engineering plastics, especially the new material long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene.
Long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, or LFT-PP, has a specific gravity of less than 2.0. Compared with 7.6 for steel, 8.4 for copper, and 2.7 for aluminum, the weight reduction effect is much more obvious. The performance of long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene is also very good. The high temperature fatigue strength at 120 ° C is twice that of ordinary glass fiber reinforced PP, even 10% higher than glass fiber reinforced nylon, which is famous for its heat resistance. With the durability and reliability required as a structural part, it is the material of choice for lightweight vehicles.
Characteristics of long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene
Generally speaking, the tensile strength of polypropylene materials is between 20M and 30MPa, the bending strength is between 25M and 50MPa, and the bending modulus is between 800M and 1500MPa. If you want to improve the strength properties of polypropylene, you must use glass fiber for reinforcement. The mechanical properties of polypropylene reinforced by glass fibers can be improved exponentially or even several times. The tensile strength can reach 65MPa ~ 90MPa, the bending strength can reach 70MPa ~ 120MPa, and the bending modulus can reach 3000MPa ~ 4500MPa. Such mechanical strength is completely comparable to ABS and reinforced ABS products.
Glass fiber reinforced polypropylene is more heat resistant. Generally, the heat resistance temperature of ABS and reinforced ABS is between 80 ℃ and 98 ℃, while the heat resistance temperature of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene material can reach 135 ℃ ~ 145 ℃.
The high-temperature fatigue strength of long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene at 120 ° C is twice that of ordinary glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, and it is even 10% higher than that of glass fiber reinforced nylon, which is known for its heat resistance. The required durability and reliability. Long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene has better warpage resistance than short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene.
Advantages of long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene
1. Good dimensional stability
2. Excellent fatigue resistance
3. Small creep performance
4. Low anisotropy and low warpage
5. Excellent mechanical properties, especially impact resistance
6. Good fluidity, suitable for processing thin-walled products
Application examples of long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene in the automotive field
LFT-PP is mainly used in bottom guards, sunroof drains, instrument panel frameworks, front frames, engine bottom guards, engine covers, gearbox bases, rearview mirror brackets, door inner panels, accelerator pedals, truck bumper brackets Other parts.