The manufacturer tested the proposed solution and validated its superior molding and processing performance before putting it into production.

The manufacturer tested the proposed solution and validated its superior molding and processing performance before putting it into production.

The resulting white paper unpacks the technical details and conclusions of the study, including the efficacy of GLS™ TPEs with antimicrobial additives to protect the finished, molded part.

The resulting white paper unpacks the technical details and conclusions of the study, including the efficacy of GLS™ TPEs with antimicrobial additives to protect the finished, molded part.

No matter which process you choose—assembling panels from aluminum, steel or wood; hand lay-up with composites; or producing panels using the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process—throughput remains low while costs are high. And because each panel is individually fabricated, laid up or molded, it can be difficult to ensure uniform quality. Our high fiber volume, glass-reinforced thermoplastic panels and continuous resin transfer molding (CRTM) thermoset sandwich panels can streamline production and reduce system costs by eliminating assembly steps such as welding, drilling, bolting and riveting.

LONG GLASS FIBER SURFACE AESTHETICS Good surface cosmetics with glass fiber reinforced nylons are difficult to obtain without high mold temperatures that lengthen cycle times. Complēt moisture resistant nylons reinforced with long glass fiber produce a smooth, fiber-free finish without special processing to give molded components a high-quality appearance. Surface gloss levels >70 can be obtained in polished molds with these environmentally stabilized formulations. 1.844.4AVIENT www.avient.com Copyright © 2021, Avient Corporation.

VERSAFLEX™ VDT 4202-40B DYNAFLEX™ G7940-1 Application Anti-Vibration Feet Anti-Vibration Feet Defining Characteristic Vibration Damping Good Processability Compression Set Low Compression Set Low Compression Set Tactile Feel Grippy Feel Soft Touch, Rubbery Feel Coloring Black Natural Hardness 40 Shore A 40 Shore A Processing Injection Molding Injection Molding Overmolding Substrate Polypropylene Polypropylene HOW GLS TPEs MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN HOME APPLIANCE ANTI-VIBRATION FEET • Reduced appliance movement and noise – vibration damping technology reduces movement and noise of the appliance when in use • Resistance to wear and tear – TPEs are proven to maintain their shape and resist tears with low compression set • Better performance and function – increase design freedom with material selection flexibility • Improved processability – boost efficiency with injection molding processing and reduce overall production cycle time and costs • Reduced number of part defects – eliminate secondary operations to achieve consistent and controlled results To learn more about GLS TPEs home appliances, visit www.avient.com or call +1.844.4AVIENT (1.844.428.4368).

WHY LFT FOR BRACKETS & LATCHES Reduced System Costs • High volume production efficiency due to injection molding (shorter cycle times) • Reduced secondary operations (no welding, surface treatments, etc.) Weight Reduction • LFT has lower density vs. metal, but still meets structural performance requirements • Lightweighting helps meet sustainability goals related to lower fuel consumption and extended vehicle range Design Flexibility • Injection molding allows for complex geometries and part consolidation • Advanced modeling and computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools for long fiber composites help validate and optimize part design APPLICATION BULLETIN COMPARING PRODUCTION COST DRIVERS Cast Metal Stamped Metal Long Fiber Composite Material typically used Aluminum Steel Various base resins based on environmental conditions Casting X Stamping X Injection Molding X Machining X Not typically needed as LFT is a one-step process Drilling X Welding X Surface Treatments X X po st -p ro ce ss pr oc es s MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic Long Fiber Composite Aluminum Steel Specific Gravity (g/cc) 1.03–1.71 2.76 7.8–7.9 Specific Strength (Strength-to-Weight ratio) Excellent Good Poor Stiffness Fair Good Excellent Toughness/Fatigue Excellent Fair Fair Creep Good Excellent Excellent Corrosion Resistance Excellent Good Poor Temperature Range Performance Good Excellent Excellent Cycle Time Excellent Good Poor Design Freedom (i.e., complex geometry, part consolidation) Excellent Fair Fair Raw Material Cost Poor Good Fair Total Production Cost Good Fair Fair pr od uc ti on pe rf or m an ce Avient offers a range of customizable long fiber reinforced structural material solutions and design support for your metal-to-plastic conversion projects

Do note that LSR is generally more capable of reflecting a nuanced mold texture than thermoplastic elastomers because LSR exhibits a low viscosity that allows it to flow more easily across the entire mold and into complex geometries. LSR flows easily into molds with varied wall thicknesses and can fill very long, thin sections of a mold. Keep in mind that a limited number of toolmakers specialize in LSR molds—and many are based in Europe.

We also provide the industry’s finest specialty inks, plastisols, and vinyl slush molding solutions. Global ISO Certificate Library