 |
| |
[24-04-13]
Toray, EconCore and Itochu enter into a license option agreement on polyamide honeycomb technology
After preliminary process and product development work, Toray, EconCore and ...More
[11-04-13]
EconCore and ThermHex Waben look back at a successful edition of the JEC Composites Show
Last March, EconCore exhibited, together with daughter company ThermHex Waben, at the JEC ...More
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Folded honeycomb from a continuous thermoplastic sheet
Core material and process
The patented ThermHex honeycomb material and technology allows production from a single continuous thermoplastic sheet by successive in-line operations.
The ThermHex core is produced from a single sheet by a thermoforming, a folding and a bonding operation. ThermHex honeycombs have closed skin strips, allowing perfect bonding of skins onto the core.
ThermHex technology enables the cost efficient production of honeycomb cores from a wide range of thermoplastic polymers with a large variation in cell size, density and thickness.
Production line
The ThermHex production technology enables the production of themoplastic honeycombs directly from the extruder or from a roll of material.
Inline postprocessing to panels and parts leads to further cost reductions by optimal process integration.
ThermHex Applications
EconCore technologies allow for production of ThermHex honeycomb cores from different thermoplastic polymers via a coil of film or by direct extrusion and enable a direct further processing in-line. The range of polymers include (but is not limited to) PP (Polypropylene), PE (Polyethylene), PS (Polystyrene), PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), PA (Polyamide), PC (Polycarbonate), ABS (Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane), PPS (Polyphenylene sulfide), PEI (Polyetherimide).
In combination with different skin materials EconCore honeycombs offer a wide range of application possibilities. Low production costs of EconCore honeycombs enable substitution of other honeycomb cores and homogeneous panel materials. In development projects with our customers and licensees we develop panels and parts for automotive, furniture, building and packaging markets.
ThermHex technologies for automotive interior parts
Lightweight sandwich panels may be produced directly in-line with the core production by direct in-line lamination of skins onto the ThermHex honeycomb core. Sandwich panels with thermoplastic skins and a ThermHex honeycomb core enable the very cost efficient forming of complex sandwich parts for automotive interior applications.
Sandwich panels with ThermHex honeycomb cores are especially suitable for the following automotive interior components:
· headliner
· luggage compartment floor and spare wheel covers
· cabin floor and underfloor systems
ThermHex technologies for interior, furniture and cladding
ThermHex honeycombs with CPL (Continuous Pressure Laminate), steel or aluminium skins may be used for example in interior, furniture and cladding applications. These material combinations enable cost efficient sandwich panels with outstanding weight-specific mechanical properties.
The direct in-line lamination of skins onto the continuously produced ThermHex honeycomb core allows for a very cost efficient production of panels for interior, furniture and cladding.
PET nonwovens may be laminated onto the ThermHex core to enable thermoset processing.
ThermHex technologies for packaging applications
The thermoplastic ThermHex honeycomb core with polypropylen (PP) skins is especially applicable to reusable plastic transportation boxes.
|
|
|
 | ThermHex cores and production process
|  | ThermHex cores and panels
|  | ThermHex panel production line
|  | ThermHex honeycomb as continuous web and cut to sheets
|  | Examples of ThermHex panels with different skins for automotive applications
|  | Complex formed ThermHex headliner section
|  | ThermHex sandwich panels mit class A optical surface quality
|  | Examples of ThermHex sandwich panels for interior and furniture applications
|
|
|
