POLYAMIDES | ADDITIVES


Polyamides rise to EV challenge


Demand for polyamides in electrical and electronics and automotive continues to grow, with new additive developments key to their success in ever more demanding applications such as electric vehicles. Mark Holmes reports


The market for polyamides continues to expand, particularly in electrical and electronic applications and in automotive applications in Europe, Asia and the US, where the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) is placing new and increasingly stringent demands on materials. Cooling system components for EVs, for example, will need to withstand longer periods of operation as, unlike conventional combustion engines, they function both while the vehicle is in use and during charging cycles. At the same time, ongoing restrictions in supply of the high perfor- mance PA66 polymer is encouraging development of PA6 grades capable of meeting more demand- ing performance requirements. According to Péter Sebö, Head of Marketing &


Market Development at HPF The Mineral Engineers (part of Quarzwerke), these major market changes, together with established trends such as metal


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replacement, mean real opportunities for additive suppliers. He highlights interest in polyamide compounds offering improved thermal manage- ment, electrical discharge and shielding, flame retardancy, and lighter weight while maintaining good mechanical properties. “Our SilaTherm portfolio can increase thermal conductivity, while maintaining insulating properties, for example,” says Sebö. “In addition, kaolin can be used as a synergist in flame retardant polyamide systems to optimise the whole compound from a technical and a commercial point of view. Various high performance fillers from our portfolio with different specialities and surface treatments can also be used to improve the mechani- cal properties, reduce shrinkage, increase scratch resistance and optimise other properties of the polyamide compound.” HPF categorises its additives as functional fillers


Main image: The emergence of electric vehicles is likely to fuel demand for high


performance polyamide compounds


February 2019 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 41


PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK


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