PlastiComp develops drop-in magnesium substitute long fiber composites
The company announced that it has expanded its Complēt long fiber thermoplastic composite pellet product line to include drop-in replacements for die-cast magnesium.
The new long fiber thermoplastic (LFT) products duplicate both the mechanical and electrical properties of magnesium in injection molding or extrusion materials that offer up to 40% reductions in weight.
“Structurally, long fiber reinforced composites have a history of successfully being used to replace metals, such as aluminum, because they offer weight savings and easier fabrication which provide considerable cost reductions. Where composites have previously fallen short is in meeting the combination of both structural and electrical characteristics of metals,” said Raj Mathur, Ph.D., Vice President Technology at PlastiComp. “It is common in the consumer electronics and automotive industries to use metals like magnesium for their stiffness and EMI shielding properties. Now, PlastiComp is able to offer LFT drop-in substitutes that allow these types of metal applications to be converted to long fiber.”