Innovation | engineering plastics


Polyamide marks its 80th anniversary but innovations continue apace for this versatile material family and across the entire engineering plastics sector. Peter Mapleston reviews the latest developments


Unlocking the potential of ETPs


Polyamides turned 80 this year—the fi rst few grams of polyamide 66 were manufactured in a DuPont laboratory on 28 February 28 1935. But if developments discussed at the Fakuma plastics show in October are anything to go by, polyamides still have plenty of life left in them. This article take a look at what is happening with this expanding family of materials and explores develop- ments in the wider engineering plastics sector, including polycarbonates, PPS and polyaryletherketones. First engines featuring parts injection moulded in


polyamides incorporating Diablo technology from DSM for improving heat resistance were on display at the IAA Frankfurt motor show earlier this year. The company is not allowed to identify the models until they are fully commercial, but Joost d’Hooghe, Commercial Manager for Engineering Plastics in Europe at DSM predicts more applications will follow in 2016 and 2017 as the trend to downsizing engines and incorporation of turbochargers continues. “We have spent a lot of time developing the chemistry, and now we have to spend more time on homologation with OEMs,” he said at Fakuma.


D’Hooghe says the new strategic alliance with


Ascend in polyamide 66 is “opening huge doors” for DSM as it extends its polyamides portfolio. The company will be compounding the polymer at locations all around the world and selling them under the Akulon banner. “Historically, we have been well established in 6, and we also have 46 and 4T. Now we have 66 and 6/66 blends as well.” He says that although there is something like an 80% overlap in applications for 6 and


www.compoundingworld.com March 2016 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 69


66, PA 66 has higher resistance to heat peaks and better long-term heat ageing as well as hydrolysis resistance, adding that blends combine the best of both worlds. Ascend made it clear at Fakuma that it has no


intention of pulling out of polyamide compound develop- ment and production itself. Its own Vydyne compounds are produced both in the US and Europe and are sold via various distributors as well as directly. The company was highlighting new low plate-out glass fi bre rein- forced Vydyne grades for E&E applications at the show. Christelle Staller, Global Segment Leader, says reduction in plate-out is something particularly sought


Main image: VW is using front end carriers made in BASF’s Ultramid


polyamide in its Passat and


Sharan models


Left: This air duct is produced in Stanyl PA 46 from DSM


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