Akro-Plastic (Niederzissen / Germany; www.akro-plastic.com) and its subsidiary AF-Color (Niederzissen; http://af-color.com), in cooperation with its parent company, engineering plastics distributor K.D. Feddersen (Hamburg / Germany; www.kdfeddersen.com), have introduced several new developments in the “Akromid” polyamide portfolio.

The new PA blends "Akromid Lite" and "Xtralite" are claimed to offer weight reduction of up to 10% in the 30% glass-fibre-reinforced grades that will deliver corresponding cost savings to automotive customers while also reducing vehicle CO₂ emissions. With lower reinforcement ratios, the advantages of lower density are “even more evident,” the company says. At Fakuma the focus will be on the grades “B3 GF 30 L”, for which 7% density advantage compared with "PA 6 GF 30" is claimed, along with “B3 GF 30 XL”, which is said to have 10% density advantage compared with "PA 6 GF 30".

Akro has expanded its standard reinforced and non-reinforced Akromid A (PA 6.6) and B (PA 6) lineup for automotive and electrical applications to include compounds with improved flow characteristics, higher impact strength, and an aesthetic surface finish. The RM (Reduced Moisture) PA compound series has been improved for a wide range of applications and is now available in RM-M mechanical and RM-D design grades. Alongside reduced moisture absorption, the products are designed to meet more stringent requirements pertaining to the surface quality of components and improved chemical resistance of the material.Akro-Plastics will present the additions at the upcoming “Fakuma 2012” trade fair, to be held from 16-20 October in Friedrichshafen / Germany (www.fakuma-messe.de).