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High-temp nylons combine flame retardancy with low halogen content for under-hood applicationsHigh-temp nylons combine flame retardancy with low halogen content for under-hood applications

The new materials from Teknor Apex (Pawtucket, RI) yield a smooth surface and are 15% less dense than competing products.

Clare Goldsberry

February 28, 2017

1 Min Read
High-temp nylons combine flame retardancy with low halogen content for under-hood applications

Two new glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide compounds from Teknor Apex Co. (Pawtucket, RI) exhibit flame retardancy and thermal stability for injection molded under-hood automotive components such as engine covers, the company announced today.

Chemlon 904-13 GVNH and 204-13 GVNH are glass-filled nylon compounds that meet the UL-94 V-0 standard, which involves passing the vertical burn test at a thickness of 0.8 mm (0.031 in.). Conventional halogenated compounds achieve this degree of flame retardancy only with high levels of flame retardant and synergistic filler that make processing difficult, yield poor surfaces and increase product density, said the company. By contrast, the new Chemlon compounds yield a smooth surface, are 15% less dense than conventional materials and are readily processed for parts with long flow paths or thin walls.

Equally valuable for under-hood applications is the thermal stability of the new compounds, according to Jeff Schmidt, Automotive Industry Manager for the Nylon Division. “Chemlon 904-13 GVNH is an especially high-temperature material, with a heat deflection temperature of 245° C (473° F) and a high degree of property retention at elevated temperatures,” he noted. “In fact, this compound provides a continuous use temperature that is much higher than specification.”

Teknor Apex Co.’s Nylon Division produces reinforced and specially modified compounds of polyamide 6, 6/6, 6/10 and 6/12 under the Chemlon brand.

About the Author

Clare Goldsberry

Until she retired in September 2021, Clare Goldsberry reported on the plastics industry for more than 30 years. In addition to the 10,000+ articles she has written, by her own estimation, she is the author of several books, including The Business of Injection Molding: How to succeed as a custom molder and Purchasing Injection Molds: A buyers guide. Goldsberry is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association. She reflected on her long career in "Time to Say Good-Bye."

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