Solvie has introduced several new grades of specialty resins and added a composite production line in Mexico.
At the German plastics industry exhibition (Fakuma), Friedrichshafen, headquartered in Brussels, has developed two Ixef® series of polyaramidate (PARA) resins.
The first is a super-hard material, reinforced by carbon and glass. Tom Wood, executive vice president of specialty polymers, said in Fakuma that the product has been found in high-end automotive applications and can also be used on digital cameras.
Another Ixef® grade is a 50% glass fiber reinforced material that can be painted in red and is used in signal applications such as high-pressure areas of electric vehicles. The material is easy to accomplish, Wood said.
Solvay has also added thermal management options for its Ryton® brand PPS and Amodel® brand PPA, primarily for automotive applications.
'Our material is getting higher in the car because suppliers are looking for more heat-resistant, lightweight and high-performance products,' Wood said. 'Since we both produce PPS and produce PPA, we can use any A product, depending on which material is most suitable for the application.
The new composite production line is located in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, which uses Solvay Technyl® brand nylon resin to produce composite materials with an annual production capacity of approximately 22 million pounds.
The factory is located near the factory of Chunil Engineering, an old customer of Solvay, and in addition, Solvie is about to complete a business and sell its nylon business to BASF.
The new Technyl grade is the focus of the German plastics industry. Technyl Red S is a high temperature resistant nylon 6/6/6, mainly used in turbocharged automotive systems in the air cooler and inlet. Engineering Plastics Director Gerald Durski Speaking at the meeting: the material can improve engine performance.
Technyl Blue is mixed with nylon 6/6 and 6/10 and is used in engine cooling systems. Durski says the new material has higher tensile strength and good anti-glycol performance.
Note: Ixef® PARA is one of the Solvie lxef® products, which combine high strength with aesthetically pleasing, making it ideal for complex parts that require both overall strength and smooth surface appearance.