A new laminated thermoplastic composite sheet from U.S. Liner Co. is designed for truck body and truck trailer applications, including refrigerated wall panels, scuff liners and dry freight walls. Called Versitex, it provides twice the impact protection of conventional fiberglass-reinforced polyester (FRP) panels, is lighter in weight and costs less, the company said.
Available in a wide range of thicknesses and widths, and virtually any length, Versitex sheets also are suitable for use in rail, recreational vehicles, shipping and storage containers, automobiles, building and construction supply, military structures and equipment, and other applications.
Versitex is made from non-woven continuous glass fibers that are impregnated with polypropylene and laminated to create a thin, tough, bi-directional structure. The company said its benefits are that it is lightweight, high-strength, low-cost, expands and contracts comparable to aluminum, easy to install and repair, heat-formable and recyclable.
The glass-reinforced thermoplastic properties of Versitex panels provide significant energy absorption, reducing cracks and punctures, the company said. Compared to other materials, 0.080-inch-thick Versitex V4 is lighter in weight and many times tougher than plywood. Compared to FRP that is four times as thick, Versitex is at least twice as tough, lighter in weight and is priced competitively, the company said.
The results of laboratory testing showed multi-axial impact strength of 10.8 ft-lbs for Versitex V4, the company said. Other key mechanical properties include tensile strength of 33.5 KSI, tensile modulus of 1.5 MSI and tensile elongation of 2.6 percent. The thermal expansion/contraction values (10-6 inch/degree F) are comparable to those of aluminum. Versitex resists rot, corrosion and mildew and is not affected by cleaning chemicals.
Versitex is normally supplied in bulk coils up to 1,200 ft. It can be cut using a circular saw with carbide-tipped blade and can easily be sheared, routed or drilled for installation, the company said. It can be formed into complex shapes or welded with no loss of strength.
For more information, visit www.bulitex.com.
