8/9/22, 1:42 PM Polyamides Entering a New Application Age!

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Polyamides Entering a New Application Age!
Donald Rosato
–
Apr 5, 2022

TAGS:  Automotive    Electrical & Electronics    Medical   

Polyamides (PA) or nylons are entering a new age

in terms of application. How’s this for a new age
21st Century application – electric skateboards and
thermoplastic PA6 composites.

France-based family business EMI SAS designed

and manufactured the Okmos SL-01 electric
skateboard. Rider handleability is a function of
keeping the skateboard light that in turn requires the
electric battery and wheel driving motors to have
very space confining housings underneath.

Conventional skateboards historically were flat

wooden boards or as they’re called decks where the
rider stands. Under the deck in standard
skateboards is a plastics box to hold the battery and
electronic equipment.

The EMI skateboard is a state-of-the-art design advanced where the upper deck side is slightly curved or trough-shaped,
allowing the curve in the under-deck side to have an aerodynamically curved battery space.

Due to the high torsional and bending strength of LANXESS’ Tepex reinforced thermoplastic composite, the trough battery space cover can be molded with
a very thin, space accommodating, a wall thickness of just 3 millimeters (mm).

More specifically a PA6-based LANXESS Tepex® dynalite 102fr-RG600(x)/47%, with six layers of continuous-glass-fiber rovings is used. The upper deck
cover is also made from this material. A 30% glass-filled LANXESS PA6 molding grade, Durethan® BKV30H2.0EF 901510 DUS074 is then used for
overmolding the finished surface.

This compound, which contains 30% short glass fiber by weight, is optimized for ease of filling in the long flow paths of the skateboard. The deck is also
very lightweight at 2.5 kilograms (kg) total, and is extremely impact and moisture resistant.

LANXESS’ Tepex PA6 Okmos Skateboard (L; C, Cover L) Trough Battery Space (R, L Half)

Polyamides or nylons are a versatile family of polymers that are already satisfying the demand for lightweight and high-performing thermoplastics in end-
use markets such as automotive, not only the existing major internal combustion engine (ICE) segment, but the emerging electric vehicle (EV) sector, and
the always, all-important, across every market, electrical and electronics needs.

Demands here are continually intensifying, accompanied by a growing sustainability focus on the evolution of the circular economy where recycled
polyamides matching virgin polymers and new bio-based nylons are emerging.

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8/9/22, 1:42 PM Polyamides Entering a New Application Age!

Polyamide
Performance
Developments

Polyamides or Nylons are Entering a New Age of Application Where this Versatile Family of Polymers is a Key Option in Automotive and Electrical and Electronics

For further data, information & analysis look at the following links:

1. Polyamide Performance Developments – 2022 Trends & Opportunities

2. Polyamide (PA) or Nylon – Product Database
3. Polyamide (PA) or Nylon – What’s New?

Let’s now turn our attention to reviewing five nylon application innovations.

Lati’s LatiGloss Structural Compounds for Veterinary Pliers

To start with, nylon supplier and compounder Lati has developed novel LatiGloss structural compounds, combining the high mechanical strength of 50%
glass fiber-reinforced Polyamide (PA, or Nylon) PA66 with a high-quality, aesthetic, surface finish. This capability is normally unachievable with filled
crystalline plastics where glass fibers migrate to the surface, making them not only aesthetically unsuitable but rough to the touch.

Lati’s LatiGloss 50% Glass Fiber Reinforced PA66 Molded Veterinary Pliers

LatiGloss compounds are formulated to ensure perfectly even surfaces across a range of bright colors, and with varying thickness part geometries. These
advantages led France-based Chevillot, a livestock ear-tagging systems market leader, to replace its traditional bent metal-painted sheet pliers with
LatiGloss molded PA66.

Other key advantages include LatiGloss’ extremely high, mechanically tough, modulus breakpoint of 2,000 kg/cm2 (kilograms/square centimeter), and its
chemical resistance coupled with simple part geometry that streamlines plier disinfection cleaning.

» Check out this Course by Dr. Donald on Polyamide Performance Developments : 2022 Trends &
Opportunities

LANXESS’ HFFR Polyamide 6 Compounds for Electric Vehicle Components

Next, LANXESS is broadening its glass-fiber-reinforced, Halogen-Free Flame-Retardant (HFFR) PA 6 compounds with new Durethan® BKV30FN01 and
Durethan® BKV30FN04 DUS064 grades. Both PA6 grades have been formulated for thick-walled molded parts such as power tools, home appliances,
industrial equipment components, and more recently in electric vehicle walled battery covers (light and dark gray), charging plugs (orange, interior center
front), and connector holders (orange, exterior lower right) (See figure below).

LANXESS’ HFFR PA6 Electric Vehicle Battery Covers, Charging Plugs, Connector Holders Back to Top

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These two new compounds are derived from a PA6 Durethan® BKV30FN04 base grade, that in turn is capable of achieving an Underwriters Lab, UL 94 V-
Polyamide
0 rating at 0.4mm (millimeters). However, numerous electrical components requiring high flame retardancy have part thicknesses greater than 0.4mm.
Performance
These thicker-walled parts can be made using less flame retardant while still maintaining satisfactory fire resistance. Developments

Stated simply, the thinner the part wall, the more flame retardant is required in the compound to be UL V-0 classified. LANXESS’ Durethan® BKV30FN01
and Durethan® BKV30FN04 DUS064 HFFR PA6 grades are effective in the 0.75 - 1.5mm thickness range and greater, and more specifically attain UL V-0
classification respectively at 0.75mm and 1.5mm. Current future development in these Durethan® BKV FN type grades centers on increasing flow in thick-
walled parts.

Eurotec’s Polyamide Grades for ICE & EV Battery Cooling Systems

Continuing, Turkish-based Eurotec is quite adept at specialty compounding Polyamide (PA, or Nylon) PA66 for demanding automotive under-the-hood
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) applications such as:

Radiator end tanks, cooling pipes, oil filters, throttle caps and expansion tanks in traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) systems, as well as
Importantly emerging Electric Vehicle (EV) battery pack cooling systems.

Key performance parameters include hydrolysis resistance and thermal-mechanical property aging maintenance at elevated temperatures.

Eurotec’s PA 66 30% Glass Filled, Hydrolysis/High Temp Resistant Auto Under-the-Hood ICE Applications

Ethylene glycol is used as the cooling water providing for the removal of heat from ICE engine compartments, as well as being used in EV battery cooling
systems. Aging in the presence of ethylene glycol at temperature ranges of 120-140°C is important with thermal aging capability. In EVs battery
temperature gaps around 120-130°C need to be kept at a minimum during driving, specifically for the cooling system, which in turn is critical for battery
lifetime.

For use in battery cooling systems, Eurotec has commercialized Tecomid® NB60 KG30 BK005 HV 0B, a PA6, 30% glass fiber, glass bead reinforced, heat
stabilized, black grade, ideal for cooling pipe applications due to its excellent dimensional stability and outstanding surface quality.

Also, Tecomid® NB60 KG30 BK005 HV 0B has passed the automotive OEM required 120°C hydraulic oil test standard with superior resistance to leakage,
burst, pressure pulse, and cold impact. Simultaneously Eurotec has a PA66 Tecomid® NG60 KG30 BK005 HY 0B A grade targeted at water-assisted
injection molding of complex cooling pipe designs.

SABIC’s PPE/PA Blends for Auto Under-the-hood Covers

Delving further, SABIC has commercialized an unfilled copolymer blend NORYL GTX™ Resin 9500 combining PolyPhenylene Ether (PPE) and Polyamide
(PA, or Nylon). It is a high flow, high-temperature alloy that exhibits less moisture pickup versus unfilled PA66 or PA6.

This lets it deliver superior dimensional stability and mechanical property (flexural modulus, tensile modulus and flexural strength) retention in hot and
humid conditions found in automotive under-the-hood applications.

SABIC’s PPE/PA Blend (L, Lower, Red Line) -- Less Moisture Pickup than pure PA6 (L, Top, Green Line) or PA 66 (L, Middle Yellow Line); Auto Under-the-Hood PPE/PA
Covers (R)

Automotive under-the-hood applications include:

Engine covers,
Junction boxes, and
Connectors
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Carbon-fiber reinforced PPE/PA thermoplastic composites find use in structural body parts not only in the automotive sector, but also in industrial,
Polyamide
aerospace, and marine/boat applications. Performance
Developments
More specifically, NORYL GTX™ Resin 9500 is good to high-temperature conditions (150°C) and has 20% less moisture than PA66, plus 60% less water
absorption than PA6. Dimensional change (flow and crossflow direction) wise NORYL GTX™ Resin 9500 PPE/PA is 0.30%, with PA66 85% higher and
PA6 170% greater.

DSM’s ForTii Care PPA Grade for Non-Invasive Medical Applications

Let’s conclude with DSM’s medical market introduction of an improved high-performance ForTii® Care P1G6 PolyPhthalAmide (PPA) built upon and
developed from DSM’s original ForTii PA4T-PPA based polymer.

ForTii® Care P1G6 PPA is targeted at non-invasive medical applications.

It is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliant, International Standards
Organization (ISO) 10993 satisfactory, and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Class VI acceptable.
With its key mechanical strength, flexural stiffness, and resistance to chemicals, ForTii® Care P1G6 is ideal for metal replacement in:
Stainless steel surgical tools,
Handheld medical devices,
Operating room robot parts, and
Trauma fixation device components

It also finds a host of uses in manufacturing cleanroom environments such as the production of medical rubber glove molds.

DSM’s ForTii Care PPA for Ceramic/Metal Mold Replacement in

Medical Rubber Gloves Manufacturing

ForTii® Care P1G6 PPA can easily withstand mechanical stress over 150°C and higher temperatures. Similarly, it performs very well in the corrosive
potential of Hydrogen (pH) 0.5 to 13 mediums. Weight savings when replacing metals is 50% or greater on average.

Besides outperforming other established PPAs, ForTii® Care P1G6 PPA is much more cost-effective than medical-grade PolyEtherEtherKetone (PEEK) in
the 150°C temperature segment. It also has the capability to withstand 100 plus steam sterilizations with minimal mechanical property change.

Select the Suitable Polyamides to Match Your Application Needs

View all the commercially available polyamides, analyze technical data of each product, get technical assistance or request samples.

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8/9/22, 1:42 PM Polyamides Entering a New Application Age!

Product Name Supplier Description

Polyamide
XYRON™ A0210 Asahi Kasei Performance
XYRON™ A0210 by Asahi Kasei is a modified polyamide (PA) and polyphenylene ether
Developments
(PPE). It is a non-reinforced and non-flame retarded grade with good flow. XYRON™
A0210 is processed by injection...
view more

XYRON™ AF700 Asahi Kasei XYRON™ AF700 by Asahi Kasei is a flame retarded & unfilled polyamide (PA) and
polyphenylene ether (PPE) alloy. This grade offers good flow. It is processed by injection
molding...
view more

XYRON™ AG213 Asahi Kasei XYRON™ AG213 by Asahi Kasei is a non-flame retarded polyamide (PA) and
polyphenylene ether (PPE) alloy reinforced with 30% glass filler. XYRON™ AG213 is
processed by injection molding...
view more

XYRON™ AG511 Asahi Kasei XYRON™ AG511 by Asahi Kasei is a non-flame retarded polyamide (PA) and
polyphenylene ether (PPE) alloy reinforced with 10% glass filler. XYRON™ AG511 is
processed by injection molding...
view more

XYRON™ AT600 Asahi Kasei XYRON™ AT600 by Asahi Kasei is a modified polyamide (PA) and polyphenylene ether
(PPE) alloy. This grade offers good flow and high heat resistance. It is a non-reinforced
and non-flame retarded...
view more

View All Products

Polyamide Performance Developments : 2022 Trends & Opportunities - Stay Alert!

Get updated on cutting-edge advances in Polyamide (Nylon) engineering thermoplastics to identify where the true potential & new opportunities exist for
you and make better R&D decisions.

1 Comments on "Polyamides Entering a New Application Age! "

Wilson T Apr 17, 2022

Excellent.

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