Sabic, a global leader in the chemical industry, has launched four new LNP ELCRES FST copolymer resins that comply with the European railway standard EN45545 R6-HL 2 for train seating. Designers can benefit from these new material solutions, which not only meet the new regulatory requirements but also provide expanded opportunities to create sleek seating designs. Compared to thermosets and aluminium, the new ELCRES resins offer lighter weight and efficient processing without requiring secondary operations. To achieve a seamless aesthetic look in an all-in-one seat unit or a design with a separate back shell without painting, Sabic offers precision colour matching for its extrusion grade (LNP ELCRES FST2732E resin) and injection molding grade (LNP ELCRES FST2432 resin). For customers that require more-sustainable solutions, Sabic supplies bio-based version of each grade. These new materials, and several other new products, will be spotlighted at InnoTrans 2022 (Hall 5.1, Booth 332), September 20-23 in Berlin, Germany. “Since the EN45545 standard came into effect, the rail industry has faced challenges in obtaining compliant thermoplastic materials – and Sabic has been proactive in providing solutions,” noted Brian Rice, Senior. Manager, Global Product Management, LNP/NORYL, Specialties, Sabic. “With our new LNP ELCRES FST products, we not only met customers’ high expectations for compliance, performance, aesthetics and manufacturability, but we also addressed their sustainability goals with bio-based versions. With multiple grades to choose from, manufacturers can once again leverage the advantages of thermoplastics in their seating applications.” Bio-based materials increase sustainability Sabic’s bio-based versions of both the extrusion and injection molding grades were developed to expand the sustainability benefits of the LNP ELCRES FST materials beyond paint elimination and weight reduction. LNP ELCRES FST2732EB (extrusion) and LNP ELCRES FST2432B (injection molding) products incorporate 55 percent renewable feedstocks from crude tall oil and other waste products. Both are potential drop-in solutions that deliver the same high performance and regulatory compliance as the fossil-based grades. An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent analysis showed these bio-based products reduced carbon emissions by 33 percent vs. their fossil-based counterparts. Custom colour and chemical resistance enhance aesthetics The new LNP ELCRES FST copolymers offer molded-in colour options from a broad palette, including custom colours, to help enable OEMs and railway operators to brand their seats as part of the interior Molded-in colour eliminates the need for secondary painting, thereby reducing cost and CO2 footprint. To maintain the attractive appearance of rail seating over its lifetime, the Sabic materials provide excellent chemical resistance that simplifies graffiti removal, and a good balance of stiffness and impact resistance to improve durability and extend useful life. Also, the increased stiffness of the LNP ELCRES FST grades compared to standard PC allows the same part to be manufactured using less material, for potential cost savings. “Our new LNP ELCRES FST copolymers are the result of a major technological breakthrough that helps ensure compliance with stringent fire protection requirements of the European railway standard,” commented Luc Govaerts, Director, Formulation & Application, Specialties, Sabic. “By bringing together a proprietary copolymer material and an enhanced additive package, our team delivered the outstanding flame-smoke-toxicity performance that customers are seeking. We took this major development effort one step further by formulating drop-in, bio-based versions of both grades to offer the industry new options for increasing the sustainability of rail seating.” New copolymers to be featured at InnoTrans Sabic’s Specialties business will feature the new LNP ELCRES FST materials at the company’s exhibit at InnoTrans 2022. Parts to be displayed will include the back of an R6 train seat (injection molded) and a portion of an R6 seat (extruded and thermoformed). The Specialties business will share the booth with Sabic’s Functional Forms business. At the show, the company will also be featuring a new pellet-fed additive manufacturing (PFAM) grade that is well-suited for rail seating and other large parts. – TradeArabia News Service