Engineering Design Considerations

RTP Company’s Long Fiber Compounds produce tough, yet lightweight injection molded parts. The property advantages of the long fibers make these materials ideal replacements for metal. The reinforcement additives such as glass, aramid, carbon, and stainless steel fibers require design considerations very similar to that required by short fiber reinforced materials. These reinforcing fibers provide the higher mechanical properties needed for metal replacement by acting in an anisotropic manner (directionally non-uniform).

To maximize the benefits of Long Fiber Compounds, gate location should be evaluated for alignment of optimum mechanical properties relative to the part’s structural requirements. Other issues such as placement of weld lines in the part design need to be considered much in the same manner as short fiber reinforced materials.