POLYAMIDES | ADDITIVES
Stabilisers, flow enhancers, flame retardants and other additives are important for meeting processing and end-use demands. Jennifer Markarian reports on new product releases
Pumping up performance in polyamide compounds
Polyamides feature in a wide range of end-uses with critical performance requirements, including electrical and electronics (E&E) and electric vehicles (EVs), as well as outdoor uses such as artificial turf. Additives play a crucial role in improv- ing polymer stability, mechanical and surface properties, processability, and flame retardancy. EVs have presented new challenges for polyam-
ides, with greater requirements for temperature resistance and flame retardance. In EVs, high voltage systems are densely packed in small spaces and must be lightweight, which requires materials with higher dielectric insulation properties and higher temperature resistance, explained Robert Kaminsky, Technical Sales Manager at Mitsui Chemicals America. He noted that thermal management of these systems is critical, and thermal conductivity is needed to help energy exit the system. “In [wire and cable], this leads to a demand for polymers that are electrically insulating while
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thermally conductive, two properties that are generally at odds with each other. One way to achieve this is by improving the dielectric proper- ties of the insulating material, allowing you to go thinner, as material thickness has a major impact on thermal conductivity,” he said. Another challenge in EV wire and cable is high voltage wiring located near communication wiring, which leads to a need for electromagnetic field (EMF) shielding. Traditional shielding wraps are cumbersome, and improvements to additive solutions would be beneficial, Kaminsky suggested. Flame retardant solutions to handle thermal runaway are also important in EVs. Polyamide compounds often use additives to
reduce wear and friction for applications in moving machine parts, such as gear components, actua- tors, and conveyor belts, in many different indus- tries. Additives can improve abrasion resistance as well as reduce coefficient of friction (COF) to
April 2026 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 31
Main image: Rotationally moulded prototype liner produced by Elkamet using Envalior’s Durethan FLX RTM easy-flow PA6 compound
IMAGE: ENVALIOR
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