Piper Plastics introduces injection mouldable thermoplastic composites

The new Kyron Max series from Piper Plastics bridges the performance gap between components produced via standard injection moulding compounds and pre-preg lay-up composite materials. Kyron Max materials allow parts to be injection moulded at high volumes with strengths that approach lay-up composite and metals.

The Kyron Max series significantly changes the way design engineers think of plastic materials.  The combination of a proprietary high pressure moulding technology, coupled with material technology, is used to produce the highest strength structural components made from thermoplastics. These new materials offer mechanical properties which meet, and in some cases exceed, those of metals, says Piper.

Generally speaking even the strongest mouldable plastics cannot match the strength of metals so the metal part geometry must be altered and re-engineered to utilise plastic materials.  This often involves adding much more material volume of the plastic which can compromise the weight savings and cost reduction advantages of the conversion to plastics. Kyron Max polymers offer mechanical properties designed to meet or exceed those of  metals. The resulting component design can more easily replicate the original metal design, minimising the mass of plastics required while realizing all of  the engineering benefits of the plastic materials.

“The Kyron Max technology is a game changer. Piper’s expertise in fabricating components from both metals and plastics, combined with our proprietary polymer processing techniques, gives our customers an uncommon advantage,” said Dave Wilkinson, materials engineering manager at Piper. “We understand factors critical to component design, the influence of reinforcements and additives, and the effects of processing and tool design. Knowing the complexities of plastics is essential to reliable replacement of metals.”