Engineering plastics supplier DSM is extending its portfolio of high performance materials for automotive applications requiring hydrolysis resistance across a wide range of temperatures. The portfolio is targeted at water-cooling related applications under the hood. The company is also announcing a new application for a hydrolysis-resistant grade of its high performance EcoPaXX bio-based polyamide.
SM’s extensive portfolio of materials based on polyamides 410 and 4T (EcoPaXX and ForTii, respectively) are all inherently resistant to hydrolysis. One particular grade, EcoPaXX Q-HG6/7, is very well suited for applications such as expansion tanks that need to resist coolants at high temperatures. It enables part weight to be cut by as much as 30% compared with polyamide 66.
A recently-developed thin-walled “T” connector for a coolant hose in this grade has just been approved for use by a major German car manufacturer, and is scheduled to go into commercial production in the next few months. The connector needs to withstand high internal pressures at temperatures of up to 135°C—something that is not possible with PA66. “EcoPaXX offers strength and reliability even in critical areas like the weld lines in complex designs ,” says Thomas Selberdinger, Sales Manager Automotive, at DSM.
For applications where even higher temperature resistance is required, DSM points to grades of ForTii. These have similar thermal properties as other polyphthalamides (PPAs), but with superior processability.
Now, DSM is adding to its range of high performance materials with compounds based on Xytron polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), which is also an inherently hydrolysis resistant polymer; these are intended for applications where very high dimensional stability is part of the requirements. In addition, DSM is introducing a new grade of Akulon polyamide 66 that has very good resistance to water/glycol mixtures used at elevated temperatures in automotive cooling systems.
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Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in life sciences and materials sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about €10 billion with approximately 25,000 employees. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.
