New glass chopped strands are claimed to provide major advantages in reinforced thermoplastics. PerforMax and MicroMax grades from Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio, are aimed mainly at nylons and high-heat engineering resins: PerforMax LG reportedly causes 25% less outgassing than other reinforcements in nylon 6, 66, and 46, resulting in cleaner mold surfaces and better-looking parts. It's aimed at small electronic and electrical components such as connectors and relay housings. In high-temperature automotive, plumbing, and heating/cooling applications with aggressive coolants, PerforMax HR reportedly offers superior hydrolysis resistance, 15% better strength retention, and long-term fatigue resistance at high temperature. It is compatible with PPA and PPS. In LCP, PPS, and PEEK, PerforMax SP is said to deliver 40% less outgassing, resulting in fewer defects. It provides high fatigue resistance at more than 400 C. For miniaturized electronics, new MicroMax chopped strand has filament diameters of only 6 to 7 microns-as much as 50% thinner than standard reinforcements. This is an advantage in ultra-thin parts with wall sections down to 0.15 mm. MicroMax also offers 30% greater tensile and flexural strengths and 35% better weld-line strength.

Owens Corning
Compsoite Solutions
1 Owens Corning Parkway Toledo, OH 43659
Phone (419) 248-8000 Fax (419) 248-5387