Braskem takes polypropylene to the next level of performance in partnership with WEAV3D® utilizing its rebar for Plastics® lattice technology

Braskem, a polyolefins producer in the Americas as well as a market leader and pioneer producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, announced a novel demonstrator of Braskem’s polypropylene (PP) in combination with WEAV3D Inc., an advanced manufacturing and materials startup, leveraging WEAV3D’s thermoplastic composite lattice technology to enhance the performance of PP for structural and automotive material applications.

The WEAV3D lattice technology enables lightweight PP parts to replace materials like steel, increasing PP’s use in automotive applications by balancing improvements in performance, weight, and cost. The combination of Braskem PP sheets with WEAV3D’s Rebar for #Plastics will allow Braskem to compete in new structural material end-markets.

“We’re excited to offer our clients new innovations and partnerships around high-performance polypropylene materials utilizing the WEAV3D lattice technology. As the automotive industry continues to roll out new electric vehicle designs, it requires automakers to re-think the vehicle design with cutting-edge performance materials. With significant improvements in lightweighting, reduced costs, and higher material efficiency, combining Braskem’s PP portfolio with #WEAV3D #composite lattices provides a ‘win-win’ in terms of enhanced material performance and a more sustainable environmental impact, including the integration of natural fiber options,” Amanda Zani, Technology Platform Manager, Braskem.

Benefits of using WEAV3D’s Rebar for Plastics® and Braskem Polypropylene vs. conventional composite organosheet:

Lightweight: Reduces sheet blank weight by ~50% and final part weight by ~20% 

Cost effective: Reduces costs by ~50%

Efficient: Increases sheet yield from 25% to 45% by weight, resulting in a 63% reduction in trim waste.

“Braskem has been a fantastic partner throughout this project and really demonstrated a strong commitment to #sustainablematerials innovation,” says Chris Oberste, President of WEAV3D. “Leveraging #Braskem’s diverse polypropylene portfolio and deep technical expertise, we worked collaboratively with the Braskem team to identify the right combination of Braskem #PP and reinforcing lattice material in order to minimize cost and maximize performance, while achieving formability and sustainability goals.”

Relative to the CF/PA6 organosheet baseline, WEAV3D lattice optimization:

• Reduces part weight by 20%

• Reduces cost by 50%

• Increases trim yield from 25 wt% to 45 wt%

• Reduce trim waste by 63%

WEAV3D lattice reinforced panels can meet or exceed the performance of sheet metal:

• 1.8x bending stiffness vs. 20 gauge SS

• 3.1x maximum bending load

• 2x bending energy absorption

• 65% reduction in weight

Source:Braskem/jeccomposites

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