Composites: new rapid molding technologies and unusual reinforcement
Induction-heated tools
Meantime, RocTool in France (U.S. office in Atlanta) has signed pre-commercial licenses for its novel induction process for rapidly heating and cooling tools. (RocTool has exhibited the process in developmental stages at previous JECs. See “Learn More.”) Its process heats only the mold’s surface using its so-called “cage system” of induction-heating coils outside the mold.
RocTool’s first commercial licensee, Novation SpA (formerly Bauer Nike Italia) in Montebelluna, Italy, is applying the technology to molding thermoplastic composite inserts for sport and safety shoes. The commercial launch is expected this year. Cycle time is about 1 min.
RocTool is also developing automotive parts with Class A surfaces together with Azdel Inc., a joint venture of PPG Industries and GE Advanced Materials. Azdel’s initial target is to get molding cycle times for Class A thermoplastic composites below 5 min, and ultimately down to around 2 min. Azdel has an exclusive development agreement to apply RocTool’s “cage” tooling for Class A parts and expects to take a full license later. It’s testing an exterior car body panel made of Azdel Superlite (a low-density version of Azdel formable composite sheet) made with random glass fibers in a PC/PBT matrix.
