14
IN TOUCH PANORAMA
PET foams SABIC’s new, breakthrough LNP™ COLORCOMP™ compound uses nanotechnology to enable differentiated foams
SABIC | Riad | Saudi Arabia
new LNP COLORCOMP compound can address the evolving needs of multiple industries, including marine, building and construction, packaging and wind energy. “Our novel LNP COLORCOMP WQ117945 compound may help to expand adoption of PET foam materials in a wide range of applications, from building insulation and cladding, to boat hulls and decks, to the core of wind turbine blades,” said Sunamita Anunciação, LNP Business Development Manager, SABIC. “In addition to improving PET foam’s mechanical properties, our technology helps reduce weight, which opens new opportunities for sustainability. For example, lighter foam core materials
SABIC introduced LNP TM COLORCOMP TM WQ117945 compound, a breakthrough material based on advanced nanotechnology that facilitates efficient production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foams for core materials in sandwich structures. This new compound improves control over nucleation and cell growth, resulting in decreased cell size and uniform, narrower cell size distribution. These attributes can reduce the foam’s weight by minimizing resin uptake in sandwich structures. It can also potentially improve shear strength/strain properties for better fatigue performance. Enhancing PET foams with SABIC’s
can allow designers to create longer, more- efficient wind blades. Lighter materials also reduce environmental impacts from shipping. Working with our customers, SABIC continues to develop solutions that advance multiple aspects of performance and sustainability.” Core materials for wind energy Disposal of wind blades is becoming a global concern. Due to their huge size and complexity, most blades are currently sent to landfills. The adoption of PET foams in the core of wind turbine blades offers the industry a strong, light, recyclable option over incumbent materials, such as balsa
Average cell size and cell size dispersity
Cell morphology
Conventional nucleating agents
LNP TM COLORCOMP TM compound
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.0
300 ȝ m
<130 ȝ m
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.2
0.0
0.0
10 1
10 2
10 3
10 4
10 5
10 6
10 7
10 1
10 2
10 3
10 4
10 5
10 6
10 7
Area [ ȝ m]
Area [ ȝ m]
Graphs and images show cell analysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foam produced using conventional nucleating agents compared with PET foam produced using SABIC’s new LNP™ COLORCOMP™ compound. This new compound improves control over nucleation and cell growth, resulting in decreased cell size and uniform, narrower cell size distribution. (Photo credit: Sabic)
CONNECTING COMPETENCE | ONE:21
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online