Bond Laminates GmbH has expanded its Tepex range of continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastic high performance composites to include halogen-free flame-retardant versions with a polycarbonate matrix.

Tepex FR is supplied primarily in thicknesses of between 0.5 and 1.2 millimeters and variations are available with glass, carbon or glass/carbon fibre reinforcement.

“The fibre volume content lies between 45 and 55 per cent and the composite sheets exhibit excellent mechanical properties,” the Lanxess subsidiary said in a press release.

It added, “For example, the flexural modulus of the carbon-reinforced grades lies between 40 and 54 GPa depending on the fibre content, and the modules of the glass-fibre-reinforced grades between 20 and 24 GPa (DIN EN ISO 178).”

According to Bond, the mechanical properties, low weight and ease of processing make these new composites suitable for production of thin-walled and stiff housing parts such as those for notebooks, tablets and TV sets.

“They are simpler to produce and require less process engineering than aluminum and magnesium and compared to injection-moulded component designs, Tepex can be used to produce thinner walls,” it explained.

The new composites will form a major highlight of the Lanxess presentation at JEC Europe composites trade fair in France and the NPE plastics trade fair in the United States.

Bond Laminates will be featuring this new range at the JEC trade fair in Hall 7.3 and stand no F-63 and at the NPE to be held at the Orange County Convention Centre from March 23–27, 2015.

“Our new Tepex FR grades demonstrate exceptionally high flame retardance in tests to fire safety standard UL 94 of the US testing organisation, Underwriter Laboratories,” said Jochen Bauder, MD at Bond-Laminates.

He added, “They achieved the top V0 classification on UL’s Yellow Card at specimen thicknesses between 0.4 and 2 millimeters.” (AR)