Engineering plastics compounder RTP (Winona, Minnesota / USA; www.rtpcompany.com) has introduced the "100 extra performance (XP)" line of compounds that has been developed to provide higher strength, modulus and impact properties than other chopped glass fibre PP compounds, the compnay said. According to RTP, the materials offer strength, stiffness, and impact resistance performance close to that of its very long fibre compounds, combined with lighter weight and chemical resistance of standard PP compounds for applications in the automotive, furniture, appliance, storage, industrial, construction, electronics and energy markets.

Compared with common glass fibre reinforced PP at similar load levels, the materials are claimed to exhibit up to 20% higher modulus values and double the impact resistance. Their lower density makes them an ideal choice for lightweighting. Their chemical resistant and non-hygroscopic nature provide an alternative to PA and other compounds where moisture can reduce load bearing capabilities, the company said.

The materials are available as standard pellets in formulations containing between 10% and 50% glass fibre reinforcement by weight and can be easily injection moulded into large or small complex geometries.