POLYAMIDES | ADDITIVES
Preparing PA for a new age
Alternative drive technologies in automotive and the move to high powered connectors in E&E mean polyamides are facing ever more stringent demands, writes Jennifer Markarian
Polyamides are entering a New Age in terms of application. This versatile family of polymers is already a key option for satisfying demand for light- weight and high performing thermoplastics in sectors such as automotive and electrical and electronic (E&E). These demands continue to intensify, while a growing focus on sustainability and the dawn of the Circular Economy means recycled polyamides must be upgraded to match virgin polymers and bio-based materials are being considered. End-users are looking for ways to improve their sustainability profile and suppliers are obliging them. Bio-based polyamides sourced from castor bean oil — examples include Arkema’s Rilsan PA11 and DSM’s EcoPaXX PA410 — have been used for many years, but these product lines are being expanded.DSM, for instance, announced at K2019 that it will offer a full range of alternatives to its existing engineering
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plastics products containing at least 25% bio and/or recycled-based materials by 2030. One of the company’s first moves in this direction is Stanyl PA46, a high-performance aliphatic polyamide manufac- tured using a mass-balance approach of bio-based feedstock and available with the ISCC Plus sustain- ability certification (mass-balance apportions bio-based feedstocks to the process to give a claimed bio-content in the final product). Another example is it’s Akulon RePurposed, a PA6 sourced from discarded fishing nets. Ford Motor Company, which has researched the
use of natural fibre composites and bio-based foams over many years, is pushing towards the use of recycled PA6 or 66 as more sources become available, says Alper Kiziltas, Ford’s Technical Expert for Sustainability and Emerging Materials. The company is also investigating use of biobased PA610. A collaborative project between Ford and
February 2020 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 53
Main image: Cars of tomorrow will use different drive systems and that means a whole new set of material demands. Polyamides are stepping up to the mark
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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