Tubs

Borealis' glass filled polypropylene and Borcom product grades are select materials that effectively fulfill the requirements of washing machine tub producers. 

In Western Europe, about two thirds of washing machine tubs are made of plastics. Plastics as a choice material for washing machines is largely due to: 

• part cost reduction,
• greater flexibility in design than with stainless steel,
• easier recycling of plastic parts.

The benefits of our materials in washing machine tubs

Our 30% glass filled polypropylene GB366WG meet the stringent requirements of tub manufacturers. Its detergent stabilization system has been specifically developed to replace stainless steel in washing machines.

Using Borealis GB366WG, manufacturers can lower production costs and increase production efficiency. The parts are easier to integrate than their steel counterparts, so the number of manufacturing steps is reduced.

The absence of corrosion along with the high stiffness and outstanding impact resistance of GB366WG assure long term durability. Thanks to the excellent detergent resistance of this grade, discolouration or part degradation are avoided.

Borealis' survey on the influence of recycled GB366WG on the mechanical performance of washing tubs is available upon request.

Parts made of Borealis GB366WG meet the US market test UL 2157. This material has been approved by Whirlpool.

Improving weight saving opportunities

Another cost and weight saving opportunity is the replacement of highly filled PP compounds by our new Borcom WG140AI microcomposite. This innovative PP base resin contains 10% selected micro scale filler and utilizes advanced compounding technologies. It offers weight savings of up to 20% compared to traditional PP chalk filled grades traditionally used in the appliance industry.

Borcom WG140AI improves impact resistance by 30% at comparable stiffness and similar shrinkage compared to traditional PP compounds. This makes Borcom WG140AI compatible with most existing tools.

The high fluidity of Borcom WG140AI brings easier processing to converters and increased productivity.