High-tech thermoplastics for future mobility

Composites with electromagnetic shielding properties

Another focal topic of the LANXESS presence at the congress lies on the continuous-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites of the Tepex brand family. They are becoming increasingly important for lightweight vehicle design and can be found today in more and more series production applications – for example, front end mountings and bumper beams, brake pedals, through-loading systems, and fuel tank reinforcements. “We also see significant potentials for use in vehicle underbodies for the protection of batteries and in new concepts for highly-integrated, multi-position seats for self-driving cars,” explains Henrik Plaggenborg, head of Technical Marketing and Business Development Tepex Automotive. LANXESS is currently developing composite variants with electromagnetic shielding properties especially for components of electrified vehicle drivetrains.

Focus on electromobility

New forms of mobility open up a wide range of potential applications for thermoplastics. LANXESS sees significant potential for the use of its high-tech plastics in charging systems and cell holders for battery systems, in sensors and housings of electric motors, and in the infrastructures of e-mobility, for instance, in public charging stations. “Polyesters and polyamides offer best properties for the production of connectors and components for displays and control units in self-driving vehicles,” says Dr. Anika van Aaken, Project Manager New Mobility in the High Performance Materials business unit.

As an example illustrating the topic of electromobility LANXESS will be showing in Mannheim a bracket for a middle-class electric car made of flame-retardant polyamide 6. Another exhibit at the congress will be a connector housing made from a halogen-free, easy-flowing polyamide 6 reinforced by 45 percent glass fibers.

Source: LANXESS

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