The European "Polycond" conductive polymers research project, coordinated by Spain’s Aimplas Plastics Technology Centre (Valencia; www.aimplas.net), has been included in celebrations commemorating the 30th anniversary of the signing of Spain’s Treaty of Accession to the EU. Representatives from Aimplas and injection moulding company Faperin (Alicante / Spain; www.faperin.com) attended the celebration because of the organisations’ involvement in Polycond.

The research project, a collaboration with 17 other European companies and research centres (see also Plasteurope.com of 08.09.2005), has resulted in a new generation of plastic materials with conductive properties. These conductive polymers can be produced through injection moulding while reducing the weight of components by up to 60% compared with conventional alternatives, Aimplas said. They also provide improved antistatic and shielding properties due to the incorporation of carbon nanotubes and other conductive additives and fillers, it added.

New products resulting from the project include rear-view mirrors for cars developed by Faperin. The metallic components were substituted by a plastic composite, reducing their weight and providing good antistatic and shielding properties, Aimplas said.