ADDITIVES | POLYAMIDES
Increasing end user demands, in part a result of the global move to electric vehicles, are driving development of higher performing PA compounds, writes Mark Holmes
Automotive switch to EVs drives PA developments
Polyamides provide the mainstay of plastics growth in markets such as automotive, electrical and electronic (E&E), and others. To a great extent, this is down to the use of additives and fillers that enhance performance in areas such as flame retardancy, mechanical strength and toughness, and high temperature and chemical resistance. These performance gains are making PA com- pounds a ‘go-to’ solution for an ever broader range of applications.
Automotive and E&E remain key growth leaders
in the PA market, according to Brüggemann. “There is currently an increase in global PA6 and PA66 compounding capacity, coupled with a measure of industry consolidation. There is also some ongoing inter-polymer competition, espe- cially with PBT in E&E applications,” says Dr Klaus Bergmann, Business Unit Manager Polymer Additives at the specialty additive maker. “Long term security of supply is an issue in PA66 due to a continuing threat of supply bottlenecks. As
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a result, partial substitution of PA66 by PA6 is therefore ongoing. China has grown into the largest PA compound market worldwide and its significance will become even more pronounced due to continuing strong growth and resilience during the Covid pandemic,” he says. Brüggemann sees several key drivers for new developments in PA. The first relates to automotive industry efforts to meet more severe CO2
emission
standards through lightweighting, which requires polymers with higher strength and impact resistance. There is also a need for polymer compounds able to withstand higher temperature loads in smaller yet more powerful and energy-saving drivetrains. The shift to e-mobility is also seeing increased focus on lightweighting approaches to combat the heavy batteries and to extend range between charges. And, across all end-use markets, the shift towards a circular economy means reducing environmental impact over the entire life cycle of a component, according to Brüggemann.
Main image: Intensifying demands from industries such as automotive are driving developments in PA com- pounds
� February 2021 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 53
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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