• Presentation on the new composite to be held at the conference at JEC World
• Various StyLight^® exhibits demonstrating surface options and different processing technologies on display at the event
• Particular focus on carbon look applications

INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, presents the latest findings on the new composite StyLight^® at JEC World 2018 in Paris. StyLight is an innovative new generation of thermoplastic composites based on styrenic copolymers for lightweight aesthetic designs. Combining structural stiffness, aesthetics, processability and dimensional stability, the new material has become an interesting candidate for innovative designs in various industries including automotive, electronics and toys, sports & leisure.

Since its introduction at the K Fair in Düsseldorf in 2016, StyLight generated a lot of interest in the designer community of automotive parts and other industries, where aesthetic lightweight applications play an important role. INEOS Styrolution has since pushed the research of the material further to support customers to develop and industrialise StyLight based applications.

Recent investigations included rethinking the design of certain automotive applications. Together with KTM Technologies, a creative Austrian engineering office, innovative design concepts were proposed for applications such as an automotive door module, central consoles, lift gates and body panels for trucks and tractors.

Collaborating with Roctool resulted in a timesaving manufacturing process for StyLight. The induction processing technology turned out to be a very good match with StyLight sheets producing industrially thin wall lightweight parts at a high surface quality with low manufacturing cycle times.

The latest INEOS Styrolution research takes a closer look at various processing technologies for the industrialisation of StyLight. Investigations together with cooperation partner Neue Materialien Fürth (NMF) include surface decoration of StyLight, also in combination with decorative foils from the company Leonard Kurz. Together with the second cooperation partner Neue Materialien Bayreuth (NMB), INEOS Styrolution also analysed the compression moulding process on a 3D-shaped component.

StyLight composite materials are either glass or carbon fiber based. Since customers showed a particular interest in carbon look applications, INEOS Styrolution puts a special focus on the carbon version of StyLight. Since the woven fabric of the StyLight carbon sheet is already in the SAN matrix and delivered as a laminate, the risk for the fibres to move during the thermoforming process is limited. The cycle time is closer to a couple of minutes, and the parts can be back injection moulded with a compatible thermoplastic. This new technology is resulting in a lower reject rate, labour and processing cost, suitable for large quantity manufacturing, and allows functional integration in the back injection moulding. Moreover, it requires significantly less surface treatment before clear coating.

Detailed results will be presented by Pierre Juan, Konstantin Suhre (both INEOS Styrolution), Timm Braselmann (NMF) and Johannes Knöchel (NMB) in the conference at JEC World:

Forum “Industry on stage” in hall 5, stand 5E94 at 2:30pm on Thursday, March 8.

Pierre Juan, VP Future Business and Innovation, is looking forward to an inspiring JEC World: “JEC World is an interesting forum to exchange ideas. I am particularly interested in opinions of industry experts and customers’ comments on StyLight. I would like to learn, how StyLight can solve existing design challenges and help realise upcoming projects.”

StyLight based exhibits including various surface examples and a 3D shaped tray will be displayed at the Innovation Planet (“Auto Planet”) at JEC World.