Two thermoplastics products may signal advanced materials for automotive engineers who require weight reduction, improved moldability, and impact protection for large body panels.

Two new revolutionary thermoplastics technology platforms in the works at GE Advanced Materials introduce a new chapter in the company's tradition of enabling automotive exterior body panels that offer a balance of lightweight performance, reliable properties against impact, and competitive cost. High Modulus Ductile (HMD) and High Performance ThermoPlastic Composites (HPPC) may signal two advanced materials solutions for automotive engineers who require weight reduction, design flexibility, improved moldability, and impact protection for large body panels. These technologies were developed to help respond to the growing demand from consumers to produce more stylish automobiles with greater interior space, higher speed, and optimized performance.

For decades, GE's expansive portfolio of high-performance resins has provided the foundation for the industry to address conflicting demands in a single application.

GE's commercial launch for its HMD and HPPC materials platforms carries on this tradition, and represents the latest step in the evolution of higher gloss, sexier silhouettes, and safer, lightweight cars.

'Our role as a leading supplier of automotive thermoplastics has always been linked closely to our mission to be a world-class innovator of materials technologies,' said Mutsuo Aoki, market director, Body Panels and Glazing, GE Advanced Materials.

'As the commercial release approaches for HMD and HPPC technologies, GE looks forward to expanding its scope of solutions for this fiercely demanding industry.' GE's HMD technology offers the potential for new and improved design flexibilities, parts reduction and enhanced integration for body panel applications.

The new HMD grades were developed to help address technology and design limitations imposed by material flow restrictions, and to improve upon the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) seen from conventional materials used in current automotive body panels.

GE's HPPC also offers an excellent CTE performance, indicating that it will likely behave like aluminum and steel.

It is an excellent candidate for horizontal body panel applications, where it could deliver up to a 50% weight reduction compared to metals.

For the end consumer, this could represent a greater fuel efficiency, and higher performance in addition to excellent impact protection.

HPPC also offers a Class A finish and superb moldability for unique designs and modern curves.

HPPC's ability to be molded with low-pressure aluminum tools indicates that, compared to metal, the material could provide an excellent balance of cost and performance for horizontal body panel applications.

* About GE Advanced Materials GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicon-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics.

Among its businesses are: * Plastics, which is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, serving customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging.

* Silicones, which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offering silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, resins, and elastomers for a variety of industries such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, foam control, and consumer.

* Quartz - which provides high-purity quartz and advanced ceramic materials for the semiconductor, telecommunications, lighting, electronics, personal care, water purification, and various other industries.

GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified technology, media, and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better.

From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming, and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.