26 September 2006 – Compounding extruder producer Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer (WPF) and polyester resin producer DSM have developed a new ETAA process (Extrusion of Thermosets for Automotive Applications). The companies revealed the process in a paper presented at last week’s AVK reinforced plastics conference in Essen.
In the ETAA process, which has been developed by the two companies in a project with DaimlerChrysler, thermosetting materials are compounded, extruded in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder and pressed into moulded parts in one direct process.
In the paper by Daniel Schwendemann of WPF and Dr Erik Reuther of DSM, it was stated that ETAA has potential to extend the application of thermosetting plastics in automotive applications due to the higher productivity achieved, with cost savings of up to 40% over conventional processes suggested.
A further advantage claimed for the process is that it enables the use of entirely novel hot curing material systems with characteristics that have previously excluded their use in thermosetting compounds. The authors of the paper say that the current project phase involves seeking application of the ETAA materials and process technology in a series production application.
The development of ETAA follows an earlier announcement by press manufacturer Dieffenbacher that it is already working within the “Durovision” project supported by the BMBF education and research ministry to develop a direct process for SMC, called “fibre moulding compound” (FMC) and using two twin-screw units to prepare the SMC compound.
The companies involved in the Durovision project are resin producer Reichold, glass fibre producer Johns Manville, SMC and SMC parts producer Menzolit-Fibron and additive supplier Byk-Chemie.
