At this year's VDI-K conference in Mannheim, Germany, Dow Automotive introduces its new long glass fibre reinforced ABS under its trade name MAGNUM BRACE in Europe.

Compared to long glass fibre reinforced polypropylene, MAGUM BRACE only requires minimum glass fibre content to achieve superior mechanical performance. A consistent high stiffness over a wide temperature range enables construction of thinner-walled and weight reduced applications. Its base-polymer furthermore eliminates warpage and no pre-treatment for further processing like foam- or paint adhesion is required.

Typical applications for MAGNUM BRACE are instrument panels, door modules, tailgate-inner-structures and other structural parts.

MAGNUM BRACE is offered as long glass fibre reinforced concentrate which can be diluted at the injection moulding machine to the application desired glass content. The material is globally available and has seen its first use in an air duct application in the United States.

MAGNUM BRACE is a typical example of Dow Automotive's innovation capabilities. The material combines the advantages of different materials into one, resulting in superior mechanical properties at lowest application costs.

Dow Automotive is a leading supplier of plastics, adhesives, sealants and other plastics-enhanced products for interior, exterior, under-the-hood, vehicle body structure and acoustical management applications. The organization serves global tier, OEM and aftermarket customers. With offices and application development centers around the world, Dow Automotive provides materials science expertise and comprehensive technical capabilities to its customers worldwide. For additional information about Dow Automotive products and services, visit www.dowautomotive.com. Dow Automotive is a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company.