Lanxess hitches polyamide/metal composite to accelerating Russian auto market

Citing the enormous potential market for cars in the region, Lanxess will highlight customized polyamides and polyesters for sustainable mobility at Interplastica 2012 (Moscow, January 24-27, Stand FE62, Krasnaya Presnya exhibition center). In particular, Lanxess will exhibit lightweight nylon composite sheets that can be used alone or together with metal sheet in plastic/metal composite designs.

Lanxess estimates that such composites can reduce component weight by an additional 10% compared to aluminum sheet hybrid designs. In addition to automotive lightweighting benefits, Lanxess is also positioning the composite as an alternative to thermosetting plastics that have been reinforced with continuous carbon fibers.

Lightweight front ends, car seats, seat cross-members, airbag housings and brake pedals are among the components that Lanxess believes could utilize the nylon composite sheet hybrid technology.

Lanxess will also showcase its organic pigments from the Bayplast range, Bayferrox inorganic color pigments and the soluble Macrolex organic colorants. The range of uses for these extends from brake and rear fog lights and housings for household and electrical appliances to food contact applications such as drinks bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The high lightfastness, tinting strength and weather stability of these colorants prove their worth in all these applications.

Lanxess's sales of almost euro 50 million generated in Russia in the first nine months of 2011 were more than double those achieved in all of 2009 in the country. According to estimates, the Russian passenger car market is forecast to be the largest one in Europe by 2016, with more than three million vehicles produced.