COLOGNE, Germany—Lanxess has developed a new heat stabilization system called XTS2 (Xtreme Temperature Stabilization) for polymide 66 variants of Durethan.
According to Thomas Linder, a Durethan material development expert in the High Performance Materials business unit at Lanxess, the system increases the heat aging durability of the polyamides so much that they reach into the heat deflection temperature range, withstanding temperatures up to 230º C.
"They therefore provide an alternative to costly heat stabilized specialty thermoplastics," Linder said, "such as fully or semi-aromatic polyamides and polyphenylene sulfide."
The firm said it tested the high long-term temperature resistance of the new polyamide 66 by conducting hot air aging tests.
"Even after 3,000 hours of storage at 230º C, the reduction in tensile stress at break and elastic modulus is barely measurable, meaning the material maintains its initial strength and stiffness despite the high thermal load," Linder said.
The material, designed for high-tech engine applications that are exposed to unusually high temperatures, is ideal for components such as air intake manifolds with integrated charge air coolers or air pipes located in the vicinity of the turbocharger.
The first product being offered from the XTS2 product range is Durethan AKV35XTS2, a polyamide 66 reinforced with 35 percent glass fibers by weight. The firm also has plans to offer XTS2 product variants with higher and lower glass fiber contents. Lanxess noted that a XTS2-stabilized blow-moldable polyamide 66 for turbo charger components of cars also is in development.
Lanxess claims that Durethan AKV35XTS2 products exhibit better flow characteristics when compared to Durethan-brand polyamide 66 variants with the same glass fiber content containing H2.0 thermostabilization.
"This makes it easier to realize delicate component geometries and thin walls," Linder said, adding that another advantage is the high surface quality, which is better than similar material grades with XTS1 heat stabilization.
For thermostabilization of Durethan compounds, Lanxess said it uses miscellaneous additive systems that are tailored to various heat resistance levels. For example, Lanxess said established XTS1 and XTS3 systems enable continuous use of Durethan at around 200º C, just as H3.0 thermostabilization, XTS3 benefits from a very low metal and halide content.
"They are especially suitable for plastic components that come into direct contact with metal components," Linder said. "This is because the metal- and salt-free stabilization helps to prevent contact corrosion."
Typical applications include housing parts, plug connectors and connector strips. By contrast, Lanxess said, XTS1 and, for example, the H2.0 system are intended for black components where contact corrosion is not an issue.
The New Products blog showcases innovations suppliers are introducing to the rubber industry. It focuses on new materials, machinery, molds, testing equipment, software, and other goods and services that are intended to help manufacturers of finished rubber products. The blog will appear on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To have your product considered for the blog, contact Online Content Editor Erin Pustay Beaven at [email protected] or Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].