Polykemi launches SCANREX - a new family of high performing compounds

It is time for the next step in the development of the Polykemi product range. The company now launches a new family of high performing plastic compounds called SCANREX. The premiere members are two PPA-compounds with 30 % and 50 % glass fibers - constituting base grades in a class of materials which has become a popular first stop for designers and engineers, faced with the task of replacing metal with plastics.

Polykemi is well known for its extensive range of customer adapted engineering plastics. Now the grade line is extended further, by adding a family of materials that perform beyond more commonly employed resins, such as glass fibre reinforced aliphatic polyamides and polyesters.

The extreme mechanical performance of these partly aromatic polyamide materials, commonly referred to as PPA, make them popular in designs aiming to accomplish what was previously done with metal. The level of dimensional stability needed for such purposes is ensured by low moisture absorption and good retention of mechanical strength at high temperatures.

The new materials typically find use in mechanical components and automotive parts. In mechanical applications the advantages of the materials are high wear resistance, dimensional stability, also in moist environments and in contact with oil, together with outstanding mechanical strength. Examples of specific parts where these properties are taken advantage of include ball joints bearings, gear wheels and hinges. Within the automotive industry the material contributes to weight reduction by replacing metal in supporting constructions. In the engine compartment PPA can be found in component housings, air mass measuring valves, throttles and in fuel line connectors.

Mr Henrik Eriksson, R&D manager of Polykemi, gives some comments about the project: - This has indeed been an interesting and demanding project, especially since the processing of PPA-compounds initially place many moulders outside of their normal comfort zone, above all when it comes to the melt temperatures, but also for the required mould temperatures. First of all the material has to be given correct strength during the compounding, but then also the injection moulding process has to be done correctly, all so that the intrinsic properties of the material are optimally transferred to the ready moulded part. Therefore, a lot of focus has been placed on the downstream processing at the different steps of upscaling.

Mr Peter Rosengren, project manager from Polykemi sales department, continues: - The development process has infused us with a lot of confidence, in the sense that we truly believe that Polykemi can play a very important part in this market. We have already noticed an interest for customer adapted materials also in this niche of the market. This also fit into the strategic direction of Polykemi to present additional high performing plastic compounds from the SCANREX family in the time to come.

Source: Polykemi