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NEW ONLINE-PAINTABLE POLYAMIDE/ABS BLENDS FOR AUTOMOTIVE BODY ELIMINATES NEED FOR CONDUCTIVE PRIMER
Triax TP 3161 PA/ABS provides higher heat distortion resistance - 180 to 200°C (356 to 392°F) - than other competitive thermoplastics used for automotive body panel applications. This ensures that the parts are able to withstand the high temperatures encountered in the drying ovens during cathodic dip coating (e-coating). As a result, parts can be mounted directly on the bodyshell (body-in-white) and pass through the entire coating process 'online,' thus avoiding special handling. 'With Triax TP 3161 PA/ABS, a step in the painting process can be eliminated, because there is no longer any need to use a conductive primer. This enables cost savings in materials, technical complexity, labor and logistics,' says Thomas Malek, bodywork applications manager at Bayer Polymers. In addition to its heat distortion resistance, the material is almost 50% stiffer than comparable PPO/PA blends. 'With Triax TP 3161 PA/ABS, parts can be made with thinner walls and without additional reinforcements. This means significant weight savings - as much as 50 percent compared with a steel fender,' adds Malek. The material also possesses superior flow properties when compared with PPO/PA blends, allowing design engineers and stylists to create highly complex designs. The good flow characteristics yield components with lower internal stresses and a reduced warpage. This allows for the use of simplified injection molds (ex: fewer gates), which translates to further cost benefits. When considering plastic exterior panels, the coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) is critical. CLTE strongly influences the gap size between neighboring parts and the CLTE of Triax TP 3161 PA/ABS is superior to that of competing PPO/PA blends. 'Since Triax TP 3161 PA/ABS combines high-heat resistance and low CLTE with traditional thermoplastic body panel performance, parts are able to avoid minor damage such as dents and dings compared to steel,' said David Loren, market channel manager at Bayer Polymers Americas. Triax TP 3161 PA/ABS is designed for use in fender applications, in particular, but it can also be used in the production of rear side panels. By 2010, according to internal company forecasts, demand for thermoplastic materials for fenders in Europe alone will roughly double from its current level of some 8,000 metric tons. Growth in thermoplastic fenders in the U.S. is also anticipated to double in the same time period. 'Triax TP 3161 PA/ABS enhances Bayer Polymers' Triax PA/ABS body panel product offering,' added Loren. 'Triax DP 3155 PA/ABS was introduced to the market last year and is a non-conductive alternative to the newly introduced conductive Triax TP 3161 grade.' http://www.bayermaterialscience.com
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