High-performance thermoplastic compounder Asahi Kasei North America has launched Thermylene P11, a next-generation family of glass-reinforced polypropylene (PP) compounds with unprecedented strength, expanding the performance envelope for conventional glass-reinforced PP design and opening opportunities for thin-wall molding of interior and exterior automotive parts.

The Thermylene P11 family of chemically-coupled PP compounds, available in 30%, 40%, and 50% glass loadings, delivers the highest tensile strength without sacrificing other performance attributes. It reportedly provides an optimum balance of properties and facilitates thin-wall molding for a range of applications. “The Thermylene P11 family is a step change improvement which enables OEMs and tier suppliers to fine tune the necessary performance without worrying about any compromise,” said Vive Apte, application development engineer for Asahi Kasei North America.

Thermylene P11 provides a 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.

The new family of Thermylene P11 compounds offers higher tensile strength at elevated temperature, greater room temperature tensile, and improved fatigue and creep resistance versus the predecessor material family, Thermylene P10. Thin-wall molding is possible thanks to Thermylene P11’s melt flow of 3-10 – specifically tunable to customer needs. Thermylene P11 PP compounds 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. Under-the-hood 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.

Asahi Kasei has received strong interest in the new family of glass-filled PP compounds with material evaluations currently underway at leading OEMs and tier suppliers.