Mafic USA and TMG Materials Group (hereinafter referred to as "TMG") announced a collaboration to mix more basalt fibers into injection molded thermoplastics in the automotive industry. Mafic recently started operations at its basalt fiber production plant in Shelby, North Carolina. Located in Rockford, Michigan, TMG is a manufacturer and distributor of thermoplastics and a leader in providing sustainable plastics directly to automotive original equipment manufacturers and their grade suppliers in the automotive industry. The two companies will work together to combine their respective expertise to give full play to the unique mechanical properties of basalt fibers.
Both basalt chopped fiber and continuous fiber have excellent mechanical properties and can be used in injection-molded thermoplastics in various automotive parts. Specifically, basalt fibers provide improved tensile, bending and impact properties compared to currently used materials. In addition, basalt fiber has obvious value orientation in nylon resin and can replace existing filler materials. Basalt fiber can be mixed with other fibers to achieve an excellent balance between cost and performance in automotive structural applications. Basalt fiber-filled thermoplastics have an excellent balance of value and mechanical properties, providing an environmentally friendly filler technology that can achieve cost, weight, and sustainability goals.