Interior/exterior | automotive
available only in black but the company is in the process of developing coloured grades. Elix Polymers, the Spanish ABS production unit spun off from Styrolution in 2012, has been beefing up its range with new additions in high-heat and metalliz- able grades, many of which are intended for auto applications. The company says its electroplatable Elix P2MC (similar to Styrolution’s Novodur P2MC) has long been considered by customers as best in class in terms of its ability to adhere to metal but earlier this year it unveiled an upgraded version of P2MC. It has also developed a high heat platable ABS grade, HH P2MC, together with a platable ABS/polycarbonate (ABS/PC) blend, Ultra HH4115PG. Target applications for the electroplating grades include radiator grilles, logos, profiles, tailgate handles, and decorative interior parts. The company says it has improved the purity of the ABS in Elix P2MC to give a better surface quality in finished parts. “Most of our galvano and electroplating customers have tested the material with very good results and have expressed their satisfaction,” says Toni Prunera, Head of Quality and Business Development. The new alpha-methylsty-
rene (AMS)-free HH P2MC grade has similar behaviour to the original P2MC in terms of processability and properties, but its heat deflection tempera- ture (HDT) is several degrees higher at around 104°C. Aside from the increased HDT, Elix Polymers says the material offers lower emissions than alternative platable high heat grades in the market. The Ultra HH- 4115PG is an ABS modified with PC – rather than a PC modified with ABS – and is said to offer higher heat resistance than HH P2MC along with better process- ability, lightweighting and cost than current PC/ABS options.
Meanwhile, Polyscope claims it has drawn consider-
able interest in its Xiran heat boosters for various styrenics. Faas says the company has built a strong position at large global ABS and ASA polymer produc- ers and compounders since the introduction in 2013 of its Xiran IZ-grades. These are terpolymers based on styrene, maleic anhydride and a third monomer, N-phenylmaleimide. Faas says users look very favourably at the low volatiles compared with alterna- tives and this is particularly important for automotive interior applications. “We will be promoting this much more in the future,” he says. The company is also expanding its heat booster
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business into transparent acrylics, starting with automotive applications, and it claims to be at an advanced development stage with some PMMA suppliers on high-heat grades. “This is an interesting development, with an increasing number of headlights using LEDs,” he says. “Headlights will be more compact, so the lens will be closer to the LED, meaning there will be a need for a PMMA with higher heat resistance.” Faas sees several advantages for PMMA over polycarbonate in this application, most notably lower cost and higher clarity.
Back to black PMMA supplier Evonik used K2016 to highlight its new Plexiglas Hi-Gloss NTA-5 grade for non-transparent, black, high-gloss body components with moulded-in colour and resistance to scratching and weathering. This specialty product is a further development within the company’s Plexiglas Hi-Gloss range, offering higher impact strength com- bined with improved heat
deflection temperature under load. Evonik sees potential in radiator
grilles, air vents, mirror housings, and various trim parts.
EMS-Grivory claims its Grilamid TR Piano Black, a
grade of transparent amorphous polyamide containing special pigments to give it a deep black gloss, offers better results than either PMMA or PC. In particular, it says its product offers better resistance to chemicals, stress cracking and high temperatures. Fiat has selected it for the gear shift knob on its 500 model and Mercedes also uses it for air vents on the new C Class. First applications for a Piano White version are also planned, the company says. Safety and removing weight have traditionally been
considered mutually exclusive in the automotive industry, says SABIC’s UV. “The industry has always believed that you can’t take weight out and make parts safer. But we are demonstrating that it is in fact
November/December 2016 | INJECTION WORLD 17
Above: An engine grille produced for Toyota in a
metalized ABS grade from
ELIX Polymers
Left: Air vents for the latest Mercedes C Class moulded in Grilamid TR Piano Black PA from EMS- Grivory
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