All-plastic construction uses fibre-reinforced polyamide

French nylon major Rhodia believes it has advanced the scope of automotive plastics with the development of an all-plastic front end construction for cars. The system, to be marketed under the TechnylForce brand, combines the company’s TechnylStar high flow PA6 resin with long glass fibre technology that the firm has developed.

Up to now, polymer applications in this area have focused on the kind of hybrid metal/plastic technology initially developed by Bayer and subsequently placed in the Lanxess stable. Rhodia Polyamide president Jean-Claude Steinmetz told PRW.com yesterday: “The new, pure plastics structures are coming. The first will be out in six months.”

Steinmetz quoted weight savings from 3.6kg for the established type to 2.9kg for the all-plastics version and added that significant advantages also arise from part integration and design freedom.