Asahi Kasei Unveils Thermylene P11: Advanced Glass‑Reinforced PP for Automotive Thin‑Wall Applications

High-performance thermoplastics supplier Asahi Kasei (Tokyo, Japan) has launched Thermylene P11, a next-generation family of glass-reinforced polypropylene (PP) compounds that opens new opportunities for thinwall molding of interior and exterior automotive parts.

The new family of Thermylene P11 compounds, currently available in 30%, 40%, 45% and 50% glass loadings, is said to offer higher tensile strength at elevated temperature, improved room temperature tensile, and improved fatigue and creep resistance compared to the predecessor material family, Thermylene P10. Thinwall molding is possible due to the new material’s melt flow of 10-25 g/10 min. Thermylene P11 reportedly provides up to 40% improvement in measured tensile strength at 80°C and 120°C compared to conventional glass-filled PP. Thermylene P11 GF40% boasts flexural modulus of 10,000 MPa, tensile strength of 125 MPa, and a heat distortion temperature of 155°C. According to Asahi Kasei, the new material can also be processed at a lower temperature and a higher fill rate, resulting in energy and cycle time savings. Thinner wall thicknesses can be achieved in new designs due to the high tensile and flexural modulus properties. Due to the material’s high flow, parts can be packed more efficiently resulting in lower porosity/voids.

Asahi Kasei is targeting a range of structural parts in the automotive and appliance markets. In interior automotive, key applications include door modules, center consoles, load floors and instrument panels. Underhood automotive parts include fan shrouds, battery trays, front end modules and grille shutters. In appliance, Thermlyene P11 is targeted for heat-exposed dryer components such as lint trays. 

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Asahi Kasei is part of the AZL international composites network. This post is courtesy of the CompositesWorld and AZL Aachen GmbH media partnership.