NEW HIGH FLOW AND HIGH PRODUCTIVITY MATERIALS FROM DSM

DSM Engineering Plastics has introduced a range of High Flow & High Productivity materials, which enable significant system cost reductions, when compared to standard resins. Added value for the customer is generated by these materials via shorter production cycles leading to lower processing costs per part, greater design freedom leading to lower material and/or processing costs per part and more room for innovation, such as metal replacement. To demonstrate the potential for cost reduction and annual savings, DSM Engineering Plastics is able to provide customers with Product Cost Analysis spreadsheet tools.

Key new materials that have been introduced are:

• Akulon XP - HV PA6 for packaging applications

• Akulon Ultraflow - PA6 for injection molding applications

• Stanyl High Flow and Super Flow - PA46 for injection molding applications

Akulon XP - HV PA6 for packaging applications

Akulon XP, a high viscous PA6 which delivers substantial productivity gains during processing of packaging films. Key benefits include less “neck-in” or side trim waste reduction and improved machine efficiency.

In addition, Akulon XP offers better web stability for higher production speed, improved layer thickness distribution to reduce material use and deliver better quality, a wider processing window, reducing down time and providing higher possible output as well as shear thinning, requiring lower motor power at high rpm and higher possible output

Akulon XP is also excellently suited for thermoforming processes: it has an improved thermoformability compared to standard PA6, since it exhibits more even thickness patterns in the corners and it allows a higher elongation. Overall, Akulon XP is able to deliver a significant reduction in system costs.

Akulon Ultraflow - PA6 for injection molding applications

Due to to their excellent flowability (80% more flow compared to standard PA6) Akulon Ultraflow PA6 grades yield around 25 % cycle time reduction and great surface appearances,

especially for highly reinforced grades. This results in higher productivity, lower investment costs, greater freedom of design and more opportunities for metal replacement.

Akulon Ultraflow is available in different grades: 15-60% GF, 30-40% GF/mineral, FR/mineral, FR/GF. Akulon Ultraflow has been approved in almost all automotive applications, including critical ones such as Air Bag Containers. In E&E, key applications include Miniature Circuit Breakers and Contactors and there are many possible applications in both Consumer Goods and Industrial Goods.

Stanyl High Flow and Super Flow - PA46 for injection molding applications

Thanks to its unmatched melt flow performance, Stanyl PA46 is already the high-temperature polyamide of choice for demanding, innovative connector designs. Cost savings can be achieved through shorter cycle times, superior strength and ductility, and high regrind rates without excessive loss of flammability and mechanical properties. The introduction of Stanyl High Flow and Stanyl Super Flow provides opportunities for even greater processing and performance benefits.

Stanyl Super Flow was co-developed with leading connector manufacturers to provide a suitable alternative to High Flow LCP. The material outperforms high flow LCP in a number of aspects: no micro cracking, outstanding weld line strength, outstanding toughness for pin retention, excellent retention of strength after lead free soldering and possible high regrind levels. This leads to very low rejects during assembly and after lead free soldering and thus to lower system costs for the connector manufacturer, combined with high productivity through short injection molding cycle times.

Reader enquiries

DSM Engineering Materials
30 Pasir Panjang Road #13-31
Mapletree Business City
Singapore 117440
Singapore

Notes for editors

DSM Engineering Plastics

DSM Engineering Plastics is a Business Group in the performance materials cluster of DSM, with sales in 2006 of EUR 1005 million (which number includes the sales of DSM Dyneema) and approximately 1300 employees worldwide. It is one of the world's leading suppliers of engineering thermoplastics offering a broad portfolio of high performance products including Stanyl® PA 46 and Akulon® 6 and 66 polyamides, Arnitel® TPE-E, Arnite® PBT and PET polyesters, Xantar® polycarbonate, Yparex® extrudable adhesive resins. These materials are used in technical components for electrical appliances, electronic equipment and cars, in barrier packaging films as well as in many mechanical and extrusion applications. With Stanyl®, it is the global market leader in high heat polyamides.

About DSM

DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company develops, produces and sells innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life. DSM’s products are used in a wide range of end-markets and applications, such as human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings and paint, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM’s strategy, named Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the company’s specialties portfolio. The key drivers of this strategy are market-driven growth and innovation plus an increased presence in emerging economies. The group has annual sales of over €8 billion and employs some 22,000 people worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas.

More information about DSM can be found at www.dsm.com .

Akulon®, Arnite®, Arnitel®, Stanyl®, Xantar® and Yparex® are registered trademarks of Royal DSM