Innovation On the Agenda at TCC Auto 2016

Lots of new developments discussed including Covestro’s strategy to launch continuous reinforced PC sheet.

 

It was very gratifying to see full attendance, often at standing-room only, at each of the 22 presentations of our second “Thermoplastic Composites Conference for Automotive” (TCC Auto 2016), which covered topics in Applications, Materials, Machinery and Processes.

 

Held last week concurrently with the Amerimold 2016 show and conference in Novi, Mich., TCC Auto 2016 was presented by Plastics Technology and Composites World, sister publications within Gardner Business Media. It was moderated by my colleague, PT’s executive editor Matt Naitove and CW’s editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan, and I had the pleasure of helping a bit as well.

 

And, you can bet that there were new developments discussed, some of which have been reported on previously, but with significant updates on what is to come. This included news from Covestro, which is planning to launch a line of continuous reinforced glass and/or carbon fiber PC tape and sheet products within the next couple of years.

 

 In his excellent presentation, “Development in Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites Using Polycarbonate”, Paul Platte, senior market manager, automotive & transportation at Covestro, elaborated on the company’s developments following its March 2015 acquisition of Germany’s Thermoplast Composite GmbH (TCG), and its technology, patents and facilities for continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics. Here’s an update:

 

Covestro is now in the development stages and has been able to successfully produce 2-ft by 2-ft continuously reinforced fiber PC sheet for which consumer electronics and automotive applications are initial targets. But, in a brief chat with Platte earlier today, he noted that they are open to serving other markets. “One guy at the conference approached me and asked about drones,” he noted.

 

While automotive is the bigger target, Platte acknowledges that application development needs to start now. He foresees the first commercial use of the new continuous-fiber reinforced PC sheet and tape products emerging in 2018 for consumer electronics, and in the early 2020s for automotive.

 

Search for more on Covestro’s PC resins in PT’s materials database.