Vol. 18, No. 4, Page 14

MARKETS

COMPOSITES IN EUROPE IAL Consultants in the U.K. estimate that the market for compo- sites in Europe will grow to 1 million tonnes/year by 1990. Over- all growth for this sector is currently running at around 6%/ year. Production of composites in 1986 was estimated to be 845,000 tonnes, a 40% growth since 1980. Of this total thermosets such as unsaturated polyesters, epoxies, and phenolics, accounted for around 645,000 tonnes. By 1990, the thermoset sector is likely to account for 765,000 tonnes. The thermoplastics market doubled from 1980 to 1986, rising to 200,000 tonnes. Current annual growth rate is estimated at ll%, so the sector could reach 300,000 tonnes production by 1990.

PVC BOARD The patent relating to the CELUKA process for producing PVC foamed profiles and board expired in 1987. The process owed its success to the additive "Celukavit" which, when added to the PVC and blow- ing agent, controlled the process to produce an even, dependable product. The "Celukavit" processing aid - which is polymeric - is manufactured by Atochem in France.

Huls in W. Germany, produce an alternative processing aid which functions in a similar way. Cellular PVC board can be worked in a very similar way to natural wood, and it is forecast that there will be considerable growth for the product in the U.K. in the next 2-3 years.

One leading U.K. extruder of "Celuform" has been expanding its output by 40% per year over the past 3 years. "Celuform" could eventually replace 50% of the timber market in the U.K. The pre- sent penetration is around 30%. The major suppliers in the U.K. are Celluform and Swish, and according to an article in Plastics & Rubber Weekly, 23, .Ia.n. 1988,there are currently about 7 produ- cers of PVC board in the U.K. with a further 5 contemplating production.

FIBRE REINFORCED The National Engineering Laboratory has published a report on the PLASTICS IN EUROPE findings of a mission to examine the latest developments in fibre

reinforced plastics in the European automotive industry.

The findings were presented at a seminar organised by NEL. Com- panies were told that the industry in Europe expected the advan- tages of corrosion resistance, weight, shape and styling freedom would lead to increased use of FRP. Commercially successful

Cont./......

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POLYMERS No part of this publication may be reproduced. stored in a retrieval system. or transmitted by an) form or by any means. electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise. without the prior permission of the publishers (Readers in the U.S.A. - please see special regulations listed on back cover.)

Vol. 18, No. 4, Page 15

UNIT FOR DRYING AND NETERING OF COLOURANTS

development would, however, require close and early collabora- tion between material suppliers, processors and automotive manu- facturers. Such collaboration is already well advanced in Europe.

The mission visited 18 key organisations in Europe and the U.K. as part of the DTI's OSTEM scheme.

The mission report can be purchased by U.K. companies at 240 + postage and packing. Further details from Alan Wootton at National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 OGU.

PROCESSING

A compact unit for mounting above the processing machine hopper has been developed by Conair Churchill in the U.K. which simultan- eously dries and meters colourant powders or masterbatches. It is designed for applications such as PET container production in which the material normally needs predrying, and where tight colour specifications have to be met.

The free-flowing colourant is gravity fed into a rotating metering tube that conveys a precisely controlled amount into the natural material stream. Colourant and natural material pass through a rotary blender to ensure uniform distribution before the mix enters the throat of the machine.

IN-LINE COMPOUNDING Berstorff Corp. has added the capability of in-line compounding OF ADDITIVES of fillers, fibres, and liquid additives to its co-rotating inter-

meshing twin-screw reactive processing extruders.

CUTTING AND WEIGHING OF PRFPREGS

Hoesch MFD of W. Germany has developed a computer-controlled system for cutting and weighing prepregs in automated SMC produc- tion units. Variations in the weight of the prepreg are compen- sated by adjusting the cut lengths of individual pieces. In opera- tion, the unit removes cover film from the prepreg roU,then cross- cuts, stacks, and weighs the prepregs. Hoesch MFD address is Postfach 274, ~-4600, Dortmund 1, W. Germany.

NEW PROCESSING METROD FOR COMPOSITES

I.C.I. has developed a new technique for producing a high-perfor- mance composite sheet and formed components based on, for example, carbon fibre reinforced PEEK. In the new process, laid up sheets are formed under vacuum at up to 4OO'C within a high temperature oven b

Y 'It by P-ickstone. The oven, which has an internal capacity

oflm, operates UC to 5OO'C with a temperature stability of 1°C and.temperature uniformity within 5OC.

Cont./......

ADDITIVES FOR o 1998 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam./88/$0.00 + 2.20

POLYMERS No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system. or transmitted by any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permisslon of the publishers. (Readers in the U.S.A. - please see special regulations listed on back cover.)