DSM (Sittard / The Netherlands; www.dsm.com) has introduced “Stanyl Diablo” OCD 2305 BM, a high temperature PA developed for blow-moulded ducts for use in automotive applications. The company said air ducts made of the material are lighter than parts made of metal or polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) and can handle continuous temperature up to 230°C.

The material is a heat stabilised blow moulding grade of “Stanyl” PA 4.6, developed specifically for hot charge air ducts. DSM claims that it is the first high temperature PA suitable for processing by extrusion-blow moulding and offers significant cost benefit compared to PPS, due to its lower weight and scrap rate. Part weights can be reduced by a claimed 7% – this can increase to up to 10% thanks to improved wall thickness distribution.

The first company to deliver serial ducts manufactured in the material was Engineering Technology Marketing (Saalburg-Ebersdorf / Germany), which was searching for an alternative blow moulding material to produce hot charge air ducts for Volkswagen, which has now approved use of the polyamide.