PLASTIC REPLACEMENTS FOR ALUMINUM EXTRUSIONS

DUE TO RISING COSTS OF ALUMINUM, MILITARY CONTAINERS USING ALUMINUM EXTRUSIONS WILL BE STUDIED TO DETERMINE IF PLASTICS CAN ACHIEVE A COST AND WEIGHT EFFECTIVE REPLACEMENT OF TYPICAL PROFILES. BOTH THERMOPLASTICS (TP) AND THEMOSETS (TS) CAN BE MADE TO THE SAME PROFILES AS ALUMINUM EXTRUSIONS, BUT PERFORMANCE OF THE PROFILE WILL BE QUESTIONABLE. REINFORCEMENTS CAN BE ADDED IN THE FORM OF PARTICULATE OR FIBERS (CONTINUOUS, CHOPPED, OR MILLED) THAT CAN SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE PROPERTIES AND MAKE THE PROFILE PERFORM AS WELL AS ALUMINUM. OTHER CONCERNS SUCH AS WEATHERABILITY WILL BE ADDRESSED FOR THE MAJOR POLYMER CATEGORIES TO DETERMINE IF THE TWENTY YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY IS FEASIBLE.