Polyamide fibres and engineering plastics specialist Nilit (Migdal Haemek / Israel; www.nilit.com) has introduced a speciality polymer for injection moulding customers who need tailor-made materials in small- to medium-sized quantities. The company said it intends to participate in a market that continues to display double-digit annual growth. The semi-crystalline polyphthalamide (PPA) “Nilamid XT” products are aimed at two industry segments in Europe where Nilit expects strong demand, notably automotive/transportation and general industry (including appliances).

PPAs are partially aromatic polyamides (PA) with superior resistance to high temperatures combined with excellent mechanical properties, high dimensional stability and very good chemical resistance. They are used in various components in the markets that Nilit is targeting. These include automotive fuel line components, bushings and bearings as well as appliances where PPA replaces brass in parts such as water heater manifolds, valve bodies and coolant pumps.

Arno Wolf, vice president, Performance Polymers at Nilit Plastics (Europe: Rho / Italy; www.nilit.com/plastics), explained that although many of these are established applications, specifier needs are changing and becoming more refined. He said this could result in lower demand for individual grades and Nilit is ideally positioned to develop tailor-made PPA compounds with very specific properties. “With 'Nilamid XT', we will play to our strengths, creating compounds that meet very specific requirements. 'Nilamid XT' is a specialty brand for specialty applications,” Wolf commented.

The 'Nilamid XT' range adds to other high-performance PA-based compounds that Nilit has introduced in recent months. First applications are now being commercialised for the “Frianyl XT” family of flame-retardant PPAs that were introduced in late 2014 (see Plasteurope.com of 20.08.2015).