Borealis is to launch a new range of microcomposite materials

The Borcom microcomposites are aimed at filling the gap between nanocomposites and conventional polyolefin (TPO) compounds. The first Borcom grade, L007AE, is targeted at automotive exterior body panel applications.

Making the announcement at EPN and PRW’s Plastics in Automotive Exteriors conference in Frankfurt yesterday, Borealis marketing manager Franz Zдngerl introduced the L007AE grade as a TPO with high stiffness and impact resistance but with low density.

He said two other grades will be launched at K, one for automotive interiors, and one aimed at under-bonnet applications and household appliances. Zдngerl expected the first application with the new material to go into series production by the end of next year.

Zдngerl said filler content is in amounts “less than 10%”, but would not be drawn on the specific fillers used. He said mainly talc, but also kaolin and calcium carbonate (chalk), are used in the new materials. Average particle size is between 0.1µm and 10µm.

He said the new materials have low density, low warpage owing to isotropic characteristics, and a consistent natural colour that provides optimum through-colouring in unpainted applications.

In a Borealis cost comparison for a typical part, a normal 10% talc-filled TPO has material costs of E3.46, while the new microcomposite material costs E3.04.

Moulded part costs were given as E6.24 for conventional TPO and E5.82 per part when using the microcomposite grade. The cost saving is achieved through lower weight – 2.76kg for the microcomposite part compared with 2.88kg for conventional TPO.