Solvay will partner with Aonix to accelerate the development and commercialisation of mass-produced, thermoplastic composites made of Solvay’s polymers use in markets including mobile electronics, automotive, oil and gas, and sporting goods. A final agreement is expected to close in late November.
Armin Klesing, business development manager for aerospace and composites for Solvay Specialty Polymers said;
This unique collaboration will bring together two world-class companies focused on meeting the growing global demand for lightweight, stiff, strong, and recyclable composite materials, we’re excited about the composites market and Aonix’s potential to deliver cutting-edge composite systems with significant benefits over conventional epoxy-based systems in high-volume production.
The partnership will focus on the use of Solvay’s high-performance thermoplastics as a matrix as well as over-moulding polymers which are particularly suited for these advanced composite applications due to their strong mechanical properties, superior damage tolerance, and chemical resistance. A key processing advantage is their faster cycle times compared to thermoset systems such as epoxy, particularly in high-volume fabrication. These composites are reinforced with glass fibre, aramid fibre, or carbon fibre.
Aonix offers a range of thermoplastic formulations that are used to create new classes of composite materials with high-volume output and recyclability versus conventional composites. The company accelerates commercial development by performing all formulation, prepreg, prototyping, testing, and validation for the customer.