Customer Project:

PA12-LCF40 Solution for Wire Rope End Fitting

In this project, PA12 filled with 40% long carbon fiber (PA12-LCF40) was chosen to replace traditional metal material for the end fitting of a wire rope. The component, a black end terminal with a circular hole for connection, required excellent strength, durability, and weight reduction.

Project Background

Wire rope end fittings are traditionally manufactured from metal due to their high load-bearing requirements. However, this often results in excessive weight and corrosion issues in outdoor or marine environments. The client was seeking an advanced solution with a balance of mechanical performance, lightweight, and resistance to harsh conditions.

Material Advantages

PA12-LCF40 demonstrated the following key advantages:

• High Strength & Rigidity: Long carbon fibers act like a continuous reinforcement network, ensuring excellent load-bearing capacity comparable to metals.
• Lightweight: The component achieved a significant weight reduction compared to its metal counterpart, addressing the "significant weight difference" requirement.
• Corrosion Resistance: PA12 provides excellent chemical resistance, making it suitable for outdoor and marine environments where metals typically corrode.
• Dimensional Stability: Maintains structural integrity under varying loads and environmental conditions.

Customer Benefits

By switching to PA12-LCF40, the customer gained a high-performance part that not only met safety and load-bearing demands but also delivered lighter weight and enhanced durability. This solution improved ease of handling and installation while reducing long-term maintenance costs.

Conclusion

This project highlights the successful replacement of a conventional metal wire rope end fitting with a PA12-LCF40 composite material. It reflects the growing trend of "plastic instead of steel" solutions, demonstrating that long fiber reinforced composites can deliver performance and reliability equal to, or surpassing, traditional materials in demanding applications.