By Plasteurope.com correspondent

US polyolefin group LyondellBasell (LYB, Houston, Texas; www.lyondellbasell.com) said it has launched Schulamid ET100, a new polyamide-based compound designed for sustainable, high-performance applications with a focus on structural automotive interiors.

The product line is available with various glass-fibre reinforcements for suitable rigidity. Its lower density compared with conventional structural materials opens up the possibility for lightweighting and reduced carbon emissions, the company said.

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The new material features excellent melt flow characteristics, the company said, enabling easy injection moulding and demoulding of thin-wall complex parts with significantly reduced surface defects, stress marks, and floating fibres on the part surface. Durability is improved through enhanced toughness.

The material eliminates the need for painting, but allows for seamless integration into a wide range of colours and visual effects, the company said.

According to LYB, the Schulamid ET100 GF15 grade has been successfully implemented in window frame applications by a Chinese OEM brand.