The European automotive sector can expect to see annual growth rates of 10% for long fibre-reinforced thermoplastics (LFT) up to the year 2010, delegates heard at a recent conference on continuous strand-reinforced thermoplastics in automobiles held by the European Alliance for Thermoplastic Composites (EATC, D-60329 Frankfurt; www.avk-tv.de) in the German car capital of Wolfsburg. Several of the papers presented at the conference dealt with the transition from individual components to modules and mega modules. On the whole, the share of plastics by weight in the medium-sized car of the future is expected to be around 19% higher than today, even as the car´s weight is reduced from 1,400 kg to 1,150 kg and the steel content by 10%.

EATC has published a handbook containing texts and graphics of all 25 talks given at the conference. Among the topics: Industrial overview of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics (FRP) – Properties of long-fibre thermoplastics – The use of advanced GMT materials in automobile construction – Technology for manufacturing car components using in-line extrusion compression technology – Recycling of GMT and LFT with respect to automotive requirements – Future requirements for the composites industry – Self-reinforced thermoplastics in automotive applications – Realisation of a composite pedestrian protection system.

Book Service: EATC conference handbook “Long Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics in the Automobile Industry” (English-German), 2003, original price EUR 45.00 + VAT, PIE-No. B 46169.