US custom engineered thermoplastics compounder RTP (Winona, Minnesota; www.rtpcompany.com) has introduced a range of long fibre PP compounds with low VOC emissions for automotive interiors. The new materials, which are part of the company’s very long fibre-reinforced PP (PP VLF) portfolio, are designed to satisfy OEM efforts to reduce odour, fogging and total VOC levels to improve air quality and the safety of vehicle interiors.

The low emission requirements started in Europe and are quickly being adopted by OEMs around the world, said RTP. “The global trend is to reduce VOCs to meet increasingly tough OEM environmental standards,” said Dave Pahl, RTP automotive market manager. “Our challenge was to sort through the complexity of varying OEM specifications, test methods and classifications to develop VLF compounds that meet the industry’s toughest emission requirements.”

RTP said its new low emission PP VLF compounds are designed for structural use and, with reinforcement levels of 20–50% by weight, provide high strength, stiffness, and dimensional accuracy. They are suitable for applications such as instrument panels, door module carriers, overhead and center consoles, seating and storage bins.