WINONA, MINN., USA – (March 5, 2014) – PlastiComp, Inc., a global leader in long fiber thermoplastic (LFT) materials and technologies, announced that it has recently commissioned a new pultrusion compounding line dedicated to producing carbon-fiber reinforced LFT composite compounds at its Winona, Minn., manufacturing and corporate headquarters location.
“Since the introduction of our carbon-fiber reinforced series of Complēt® LFT composite pellets in 2006, PlastiComp has seen strong demand for these products which has reached a level where investing in a dedicated production line was justified,” said Steve Bowen, President and CEO of PlastiComp. “We have received considerable positive feedback from our global processing partners about the outstanding performance and high quality of PlastiComp’s carbon-fiber LFT composite products.”
PlastiComp offers a broad portfolio of carbon-fiber reinforced LFT composite compounds in resins from polypropylene to PEEK that are available with weight fiber loadings from 20 to 50%. Using carbon-fiber reinforcement, LFT composites offer up to 50% reduction in weight along with increased strength and stiffness while retaining toughness that is similar to equivalent glass fiber reinforced LFT materials. Additionally, carbon-fiber reinforcement enhances fatigue and creep properties while also providing high electrical and thermal conductivities. These products have surface resistivity values of 0.2-0.5 Ω/sq. for antenna reception and EMI shielding capabilities in the 40-80 dB range.
The carbon-fiber pultrusion line is located in a plant-within-a-plant facility featuring special air handling and isolated electrical equipment to provide the safest operating environment possible. The new line is the only one in the compounding industry to be dedicated solely to manufacturing carbon-fiber reinforced LFT composite compounds.
Carbon-fiber reinforced LFT thermoplastics can be used for a wide range of applications in aerospace, automotive, electronics, energy, and sporting goods markets. They are ideal for applications that are weight sensitive, require high performance solutions that provide the best strength-to-weight ratio available, or benefit from the efficiencies of injection molding manufacturing.
For more information on carbon-fiber reinforced Complēt® composite compounds or other LFT products and technologies available from PlastiComp, please call +1 507-858-0330, e-mail info@plasticomp.com, or visit their website at www.plasticomp.com.
