| Long Fiber Thermoplastic (LFT) compounds are formulated for demanding applications which require high stiffness and good impact such as metal replacement or other structural applications. These products exhibit enhanced physical and mechanical properties versus standard short fiber products. Benefits of LFT compounds include improved impact strength, elastic modulus, and material strength across wide temperature ranges from subambient to highly elevated. Furthermore, LFT compounds have been shown to offer improved performance in the areas of creep and fatigue performance, improved dimensional stability, and exhibit an exceptional surface finish when compared to traditional highly filled short fiber products. LFT compounds can be processed using equipment similar to that used for short fiber products. The mechanical properties of finished parts depend greatly on the length of the fibers in the molded part; therefore processing conditions must be set carefully in order to minimize fiber breakage. A low shear process is advised, with low back pressure, low screw speed and low-to-medium injection speed. This grade must be dried in a desiccant dryer with a dew point set at -40°C. Information provided by PolyOne |
