An Innovative High Heat-Resistant Polyamide For Automotive Applications

An innovative high heat-resistant polyamide for automotive applications

22-Nov-16

RadiciGroup and Röchling Automotive have teamed up to develop an innovative high heat-resistant polyamide.

A new product for turbo pipes was presented during the 21st Plastic Materials Congres, where, Radicigroup Performance Plastics introduced its latest innovation, a new blow-moulding-grade polyamide capable of standing up to continuous exposure to hot air at temperatures of up to 230°C. The material was developed for, and in collaboration with, Röchling Automotive. Such a high level of heat resistance opens up new opportunities in the metal replacement field, where parts are subjected to severe environmental conditions. The new material belongs to RadiciGroup’s RADILON® range of polyamide engineering thermoplastics, products that have a wide variety of uses in the automotive, electrical/electronics, industrial goods and consumer goods sectors. The RADILON® range includes both traditional formulations and, as in the case of the Röchling Automotive partnership project, specialties with high innovative content, such as polyamides for continuous operation at high temperatures, materials specifically designed for metal replacement applications and materials featuring excellent resistance to chemical agents. The new product is a copolymer with a semi-aromatic component, which, in combination with other additives used to retard the thermal oxidation process, endows the material with very high heat resistance properties. Furthermore, the formulation ensures high melt strength and good blow-mouldability.

Trials and validation tests performed in the Röchling Automotive laboratories have allowed for quantifying some of the advantages of the new product:
* Weight reduction: 15%
* Reduced energy consumption in production: 5-7% (lower process and mould temperature)
* Less expensive moulds (moulds last longer thanks to the lower abrasion of PA compared to PPS)
* Enhanced impact resistance compared to PPS (Charpy un-notched impact strength at 23°C: + 72%; Charpy notched impact strength at 23°C: + 52%) For the automotive industry – where there is a very clear trend towards smaller but more powerful engines, lower CO2 emissions, longer vehicle useful life and less under-the bonnet space –, the new PAs must be designed to provide good heat resistance at high temperatures, good processability and competitive pricing.