AUTOMOTIVE | UNDER THE HOOD


Right: Teknor Apex has developed Creamid P Series PA 6 compounds that absorb nearly one- third less water at saturation than standard grades


company says that the compounds will meet the growing worldwide demand for plastics for thermal management. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including the trend toward electromobil- ity, the increasing digitalisation of everyday life through smart home systems and the miniaturisa- tion of electrical and electronic components. “Both plastics are characterised by their signifi- cantly higher impact resistance and greater strain capability in tensile and bending tests than the other materials in our TC product range,” says Elisabeth Gau, a Durethan product development expert. “This makes them ideal for components that require high impact resistance or feature fasteners such as snap fits.” Potential applications include connectors with snap fits, heat sinks, heat exchang- ers and mounting plates for electronic components. The new compounds are filled with 67% or 77% by-weight inorganic, functional filler with high thermal conductivity. Their thermal conductivity is nearly isotropic – virtually the same in all directions. In the direction of flow, this is 1.1 or 1.8 W/m K (Nanoflash process). Both materials are optimised with regard to their flowability due to their high filler content (EasyFlow). This means that Durethan BTC77ZH3.0EF flows much more easily than Durethan BTC75H3.0EF, which has already become established in series production applications, and that Durethan BTC67ZH3.0EF flows better than Durethan BTC65H3.0EF. “They enable thinner wall thicknesses and more complex component geom- etries,” says Gau. In tests conducted by the Lanxess technical centre, they are also much less abrasive and, in turn, gentler on tools during processing. In addition to toughness (in its conditioned state,


for example, Durethan BTC67ZH3.0EF is around five times more impact-resistant than Durethan BTC65H3.0EF), the materials also feature other good mechanical properties. The elongation at break of


Durethan BTC77ZH3.0EF in its conditioned state, for example, is more than double that of Durethan BTC75H3.0EF, which is filled with 75% by-weight thermally conductive mineral. “This means that the material can absorb more energy during deforma- tion, which in turn prevents the component from breaking so quickly under load,” says Gau. Lanxess is also further expanding its range of thermally conductive PA6 types. Durethan BTC965FM30 is a halogen-free, flame-retardant compound that combines good flame-retardant properties, light reflection and tracking resistance with high thermal conductivity. In the direction of flow, its thermal conductivity is 2.5 W/m∙K. In flammability tests conducted in compliance with US standard UL 94, the easy-flowing material achieves the top classification of V-0 (0.75 mm). The high tracking resistance is demonstrated by its CTI A value of 600 V (Comparative Tracking Index, IEC 60112). Applications will include use in components for batteries in electric vehicles as well as plugs, heat sinks, heat exchangers and mounting plates for power electronics. Teknor Apex has developed Creamid P Series


Figure 1: Comparison of tensile modulus: Teknor Apex Creamid P versus PA6 50% GF and 30% GF


24 INJECTION WORLD | May 2020


PA 6 compounds that absorb nearly one-third less water at saturation than standard grades, providing 15-25% improved tensile properties in the condi- tioned state and exhibiting higher flow and better surface characteristics, even in highly glass-filled formulations. The Creamid P series is the newest product family of higher performance speciality polyamide compounds designed by Teknor Apex for structural components in metal replacement applications. The compounds are based on advanced formulation technology that Teknor Apex can apply to lower the moisture uptake of a broad range of PA 6- and 6/66-based compounds. These include grades with various types and loadings of reinforcements or fillers, as well as impact-modified


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IMAGE: TEKNOR APEX


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