Demand for more robust plastics is creating new opportunities for radiation-crosslinked nylons, including nylon 6 and 66, which can serve as cost-effective alternatives to higher-cost, high-heat thermoplastics. Crosslinked nylons have higher heat resistance than their standard counterparts, along with better physical properties and abrasion resistance. Adapted from a paper presented at SPE ANTEC 2012.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Citing unprecedented and continuing increases in the cost of raw materials, some nylon 6 suppliers have been aiming to lift prices since late last year.

A thermoplastic composite technology that emerged just a couple of years ago promises to make dramatic strides within the next two years in automotive mass production of structural components.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: The new Aixtralight Clip rooftop solar-panel mounting system from Germany’s Aixtra Solar AG is made of ultra-stiff, 35% glass-reinforced, flame-retardant Ultramid A3WG10 nylon 66 from BASF (U.S. office in Wyandotte, Mich.). The plastic bracket is mounted on a roof, and the rails attached to the photovoltaic modules can be quickly and easily inserted into the bracket.Installing an Aixtralight Clip is said to avoid stresses caused by differences in the expansion coefficients of the trapezoidal sheet metal and the mounting rails.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: A 20% glass-reinforced grade of Ultradur LUX laser-transparent PBT resin from BASF is being used for the housing cover of a novel air-flap control actuator developed jointly by Germany’s Tier 1 supplier Rochling Automotive and motor developer Precision Motors Duetche Minebea.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: BASF has expanded its line of biodegradable resins with a grade for agricultural films.

Higher-performance and easier processing PE film resins for packaging, a one-pass crosslinked PE for photovoltaic (PV) wire and cable, several higher-performing nylons and TPEs, “greener” plastics, and enhanced styrenic and PC resins are among the new materials that made their debut at the big show in Orlando, Fla., last month.

The drive for weight savings in the auto industry has spawned a growing range of applications for overmolding of so-called “organic sheet composites.” These are continuous-fiber fabrics preimpregnated with thermoplastic resin (usually nylon), which are then heated until soft and placed in an injection mold, where they are formed and overmolded in selected areas with additional nylon to add ribs, attachment points, etc.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: At the Paris JEC Composites Show, Mar. 27-29, BASF AG (U.S. office in Wyandotte, Mich.) is planning to showcase two new application concepts for continuous-fiber nylon composites in automotive structures.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: BASF in Wyandotte, Mich., hiked prices of its nylon 6 resin by 10¢/lb as of Feb. 1.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: BASF Corp., Engineering Plastics, Wyandotte, Mich., introduced to North America its Ultramid Endure line of heat-resistant nylons at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit early this month.

At the recent Fakuma show in Germany, BASF AG showed off what it says is the first all-plastic car wheel that’s ready for highvolume production.

At the recent Fakuma 2011 show in Germany, BASF AG (U.S. office in Wyandotte, Mich.) introduced three new members of its “crash-optimized” nylon 6 family.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: At the recent Fakuma 2011 show in Germany, BASF AG (U.S. office in Wyadotte, Mich.) introduced three new members of its “crash-optimized” nylon 6 family.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Several new materials for automotive and electronics will be highlighted by BASF later this month at the Fakuma 2011 show in Germany.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: At the Fakuma show in Germany this month, BASF AG will show off what’s said to be the first all-plastic car wheel that’s ready for high-volume production.

 WEB EXCLUSIVE: BASF AG (U.S. office in Wyandotte, Mich.) brought out three new engineering resin grades for medical components.•Ultraform N2320 003 PRO is a new injection molding grade of acetal with a higher viscosity for thick-walled components that require high mechanical strength.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: This month, prices are due to rise for engineering thermoplastics, composite thermosets, and UHMW-PE:•DSM Engineering Plastics said it would hike nylon 6 resins early this month by 12¢/lb, following a similar move by BASF in March.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: BASF Corp., Wyandotte, Mich., introduced what it calls “the world’s softest TPU.” Elastollan Soft has 38A Shore hardness.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Three expansions in resin production and three in compounding were announced recently.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Even before the effect of Middle East unrest on oil prices could ripple through the petrochemical/plastics industry, fresh price hikes were announced for early March in nylon, polyolefin wire/cable compounds, and thermoset polyesters.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Prices are rising this month and next for several materials by anywhere from 4¢ to 10¢/lb

The K 2010 show will present new plastics materials for a wide range of industries, which makes it hard to generalize, but a few markets stand out prominently: packaging, medical, automotive, and electronic equipment.

The second conference on biopolymers hosted by NatureWorks testified to the burgeoning interest in this new field of plastics.

Additives that render plastic compounds antistatic or electrically and/or thermally conductive are in hot demand.

The footprint of thermoplastic materials suppliers at this year’s NPE is going to be fainter than usual.

The first plastic compressed-air tank for truck trailers was exhibited by Schmitz Cargobull of Horstmar, Germany, at the International Motor Show (IAA) for Commercial Vehicles in Hannover, Germany, last fall.

A new high-impact nylon 6 from BASF Corp., Wyandotte, Mich., is aimed at large, thin-wall outdoor applications that require long flow, toughness, UV resistance, custom coloring, and high gloss.

A new acetal from BASF Corp.

With the introduction of Ultrason P 3010 PPSU, BASF expands its line of high performance plastics - giving you more materials to choose from and suppliers to consider.

The most recent addition to the Ultradur® PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) family of products is a line of HR (hydrolysis resistant) grades.

With its strategic placement on the underside of the vehicle, automotive oil pans must withstand vibration, long-term heat aging in oil and be impact resistant to objects kicked up from the road.

The last two months have seen several resin capacity announcements: BASF Corp., Engineering Plastics, Wyandotte, Mich., opened what it calls the world’s largest plant for nylon 6 in Freeport, Texas.

The major thrust in new materials at K is engineering thermoplastics for automotive, appliance, medical, and electrical/electronic parts.

BASF AG in Germany developed its first glass-filled grades of Terblend N ABS/nylon 6 alloy for an interior application on the 2006-2007 GM Opel Zafira Tracker SUV.

Long-glass reinforcements and structural blow molding accounted for four of this year’s nine SPE Automotive Innovation Awards, presented last month in Detroit.

BASF AG in Ludwigshafen, Germany, will double capacity for its Ultrason polysulfone and polyethersulfone by the end of 2007.

BASF Corp., Florham Park, N.J., has introduced its first biodegradable plastic based on a renewable raw material.

BASF Corp., Wyandotte, Mich., will expand its North American engineering plastics compounding capacity by installing an extrusion line at its styrenics facility in Altamira, Mexico.

BASF Corp., Florham Park, N.J., is licensing several patents from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, that cover the use of ionic liquids to dissolve and process cellulose from plants.

BASF Corp., Florham Park, N.J., plans to acquire the nylon, PBT, and acetal compounds business of Lati USA Inc., Summerville, S.C.

Commercial applications in hollow-part molding with water—or water and gas—are starting to accelerate. They are driven by recent enhancements of process technology, equipment, and materials.

Integrated nylon oil sumps for a new line of trucks made by Mercedes-Benz have begun to roll down German autobahns, paving the way for a potential torrent of conversions from aluminum, steel, and thermosets to thermoplastics.

Usage of polyamides in U.S. under-hood parts could double in the next decade if nylon 6 and 66 follow European trends toward large panels that not only protect but beautify the engine compartment.

 A mechanical method for joining plastic and metal to create hybrid automotive front-end assemblies has been developed by BASF AG in Germany.

New materials at NPE 2003 target automotive, appliance, and packaging sectors. Engineering thermoplasticsdominate the news, but there were also severalnew TPEs and a few polypropylene introductions.

Soaring interest in in-mold finishing techniques for injection molding and fiber-reinforced composites offers new prospects for cut-sheet formers.

Food and consumer packaging was the focus of new developments in polyolefins and styrenics, while automotive was the main target for new engineering materials.

New materials at K 2001 are weighted heavily toward the engineering variety, especially nylons, acetals, and TP polyesters. A large handful of polypropylenes round out the major news.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: BASF AG in Germany (U.S. office in Wyandotte, Mich.) reports two new additions to its recently launched Ultramid B High Speed nylon 6, as well as improved computer simulation to take better advantage of its weight-saving potential.

Exhibits by three new or relatively little-known suppliers of forming machines were among of the highlights of the SPE's Ninth Annual Thermoforming Conference, which was held last month in Chicago.