Dr. Chris DeArmittDr. Chris DeArmitt

Senior Project ManagerElectrolux Core Technology & Innovation

Plastics and CompositesPerformance : Cost & Weight

1

•What are the key mechanical properties for plastics and composites ?

•Which polymer gives the best performance : cost & weight ?•How can fillers be used to improve these properties even

further ?•Are nano-composites cost competitive ?•How does the future look ?

Outline

2

PA6

LDPE

PP-cHDPE

PP-h

HIPS

POMABS

PC

PET

PS

SAN

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00

Cost of Material (Euros / litre)

Mod

ulus

(GP

a)

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

3

SAN

PS

PET

PC

ABS

POM

HIPS

PP-h

HDPE

PP-c

LDPE

PA6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00

Cost of Material (Euros / litre)

Tens

ile S

tren

gth

(MP

a)

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

4

PA6

LDPE

PP-c

HDPE

PP-h

HIPS

POM

ABS

PC

PETPSSAN

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

0.60 1.60 2.60 3.60 4.60 5.60Cost of Material (Euros / litre)

HD

T 1.

8 M

Pa

(o C)

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

5

PA6

PP-c

HDPE

PP-h

HIPS

POM

ABS

PC = 80

PETPS SAN

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00

Cost of Material (Euros / litre)

Impa

ct S

tren

gth

(kJ/

m2 )

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

6

SANPS

PETPCABS POM

HIPS

PP-hHDPE

PP-c

LDPE

PA6

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

0.60 1.60 2.60 3.60 4.60

Cost of Material (Euros / litre)

Mod

ulus

(GP

a)PP-CaCO3PP-TalcPP-Mineral FibrePP-Glass FibrePP-Mica

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

7

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40

Cost of Composite (Euros / litre)

Mod

ulus

(GP

a)Glass FibreMineral FibreMicaTalcCaCO3Wood FibreWollastoniteNanoclay

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40

Cost of Composite (Euros / litre)

Yie

ld S

tres

s (M

Pa)

Glass FibreMineral FibreMicaTalcCaCO3Wood FibreWollastoniteNanoclay

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

9

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 1.25 1.30

Composite Density (gcm-3)

Mod

ulus

(GP

a)Glass FibreMineral FibreMicaTalcCaCO3Wood FibreNanoclay

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0.90 1.00 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50

Composite Density (gcm-3)

Yie

ld S

tres

s (M

Pa)

Glass FibreMineral FibreMicaTalcCaCO3Wood FibreNanoclay

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

11

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05 1.10 1.15 1.20 1.25 1.30

Composite Density (gcm-3)

HD

T 0.

46 M

Pa

(o C)

Glass FibreMineral FibreMicaTalcCaCO3Wood FibreNanoclay

Dr. Chris DeArmitt

12

Conclusion• The key mechanical design properties are modulus, yield

strength, impact strength and HDT.• PP is the best matrix in terms of performance : cost.• For household appliances, cost is most important, whereas

for the automotive industry material density is also a factor. • Fillers can enhance the properties of PP to give composites

of even better performance : cost & performance : weight.• Nano clay is not yet cost competitive with glass fibre, but

better surface finish and flame retardance could offset that.• In the future we can expect to see continued growth in the

composites market. All fillers will continue to have a place and nano-composites will emerge as the cost decreases. 13