SABIC's materials that promote sustainability through performance and weight

Ultem foam enables aircraft designers to leverage the best-in-class FST performance of PEI resin in a form that is 10 to 20 times lighter than traditional plastic components. It is an outstanding thermoformable core material choice for aircraft interior composite structures such as luggage bins, galleys and lower wall panels (dado panels). Ultem foam meets OSU heat release levels below 50/50, and offers low moisture absorption, excellent energy absorption and low dielectric loss. It is also transparent to radar making it a prime material for insulation of radomes. The Ultem foam product family comprises grades with three different densities.

Similarly, Ultem foam is an excellent candidate material for railcar side walls, ceiling panels and partitions. Its insulating properties make it a good choice for insulation of HVAC systems in high-end structures such as hospitals.

Featuring the signature FST performance of Ultem resin, Ultem fiber provides light weight and excellent aesthetics for many applications in aerospace and rail – including carpets, kick panels, seating and wall coverings and safety and protective apparel. Woven fabrics incorporating Ultem fiber can be colored using conventional exhaust dyeing techniques, resulting in exceptional colorfastness and resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light.

To extend the benefits of Ultem resin’s exceptional FST performance, good metal adhesion and high heat resistance into thermoset composite systems, SABIC developed two powder technologies that efficiently disperse into thermosets and dissolve into solutions faster than coarse powders or pellets.

Type I PEI powders, which are produced via processing chemistry, achieve particle sizes less than 45 microns. The powder is uniformly spherical to enable more-efficient dispersion and dissolution compared to mechanically ground powders. Applications include tougheners for epoxy resins and direct impregnation of fabrics or unidirectional tapes to create thermoplastic shape-able composites for use in industries like aerospace, automotive and oil & gas.

Type II PEI powders, created by using patented process technology, have a particle structure that is fluffy and porous with a high surface area. Although particle size is greater than 100 microns, this structure enables the powder to disperse and dissolve very quickly into organic solutions and epoxies. Applications include solvent-based industrial coatings and adhesives, and thermoset resins for composites which can be used in aerospace, automotive, chemical process and oil & gas industries.

PPO resin has a low dielectric constant and loss factor (Dk/Df) that enables better signal integrity at high frequencies when used in printed circuit board (PCB) laminates. SABIC has developed two oligomer additives that easily fit with common PCB fabrication methods. Noryl* SA90 resin provides enhanced electrical properties, increased glass transition temperature (Tg) and toughness, and improvements in non-halogenated flame retardance for epoxy-based PCB applications. Noryl SA9000 resin provides many of these benefits for non-epoxy PCB applications. Applications include industrial and aerospace composites, adhesives and elastomers.