Nylon materials, with their excellent heat resistance, high dielectric insulation, flexibility, and bending resistance, have become ideal choices for thermal management systems, structural components, and electrical systems in new energy vehicles. Meanwhile, with the increasing miniaturization, integration, and high performance of electronic and electrical products, nylon materials have also gained widespread use in the electronics and electrical sectors due to their excellent insulation properties, dimensional stability, and processing performance. From reinforced materials and high-performance composites to bio-based and recyclable materials, the R&D trends of nylon are becoming increasingly diversified. In recent years, many foreign companies have increased their R&D investments and are committed to launching innovative nylon products.
Below is an overview of more than 20 new nylon products launched by nine international chemical giants in 2024, including BASF, Evonik, Asahi Kasei, Arkema, and Celanese, etc.
Product 1: Ultramid? T7000
On November 28, 2024, BASF announced the launch of the PA/PPA blend product Ultramid? T7000, which fills the performance gap between PA66 and PPA, offering a high-quality alternative to metals in structural components. Ultramid? T7000 combines the advantages of polyamide (PA) and polyphthalamide (PPA), providing superior mechanical performance over PA66, dimensional stability, easy injection molding, and high surface finish. It is particularly suitable for automotive rearview mirrors, air brake components, valves, and furniture components in humid environments.
On October 14, 2024, BASF launched the high-performance PPA material Ultramid? Advanced N3U41 G6, designed specifically for new-generation Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) semiconductors. This material is equipped with halogen-free flame retardants, offering outstanding laser sensitivity, high thermal stability, low moisture absorption, and excellent electrical performance. With a CTI of up to 600 and an RTI of 150°C, it meets the urgent demand for high-performance, reliable electronic components in fields such as electric vehicles, high-speed trains, smart manufacturing, and renewable energy generation.
On September 24, 2024, BASF partnered with Siemens to release the Siemens SIRIUS 3RV2 circuit breaker, which is made from BASF’s biomass-balanced materials. During production, Ultramid? PA and Ultradur? PBT used biogas derived from recycled organic fertilizers to replace fossil raw materials, effectively reducing the carbon emissions of the product, demonstrating innovative environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.
Ultramid? Expand, with its excellent lightweight energy absorption properties, successfully replaces metal materials, significantly reducing weight while demonstrating excellent energy absorption. This material enhances both the lightweight and safety features of new energy vehicles. It is ideal for manufacturing high-performance energy absorption blocks and automotive body structural inserts and reinforcement components. BASF’s collaboration with Mercedes-Benz on the Vision EQXX technology project has led to the first commercial application of Ultramid? Expand in the automotive sector, winning the second prize in the "Empowering Technology" category at the 2024 SPE Automotive Awards.
BASF’s Ultramid B3WG12 polyamide combined with aluminum alloy forms a hybrid aluminum-plastic beam solution, successfully applied to electric vehicle dashboard beams. This solution optimizes the strength-to-weight ratio, flowability, and injection molding stability, reducing weight by 40% compared to traditional welded steel tube solutions, providing an innovative path for electric vehicle lightweighting and enhancing driving range and battery life.
BASF collaborated with Huawei to develop smart glasses temples made from bio-based polyamide Ultramid?, with a bio-based content of 39%, achieving a 15%-20% weight reduction and improved comfort and durability. The lightweight design reduces pressure points, preventing slippage, offering a better wearing experience compared to the previous generation. BASF, in collaboration with Yuanju, also launched floating sunglasses with a 30% bio-based content, made from lightweight and sustainable materials that are easy to color. These sunglasses not only reflect the environmental concept but also ensure comfort and fashion.
Ultramid? LowPCF: Launched in Europe in October 2024, produced using electricity from renewable energy and low-emission steam, achieving at least 30% emission reduction compared to industry standards.
Ultramid? ZeroPCF: Launched in Europe in October 2024, this is the industry’s first polyamide 6 product with a net zero carbon footprint. It uses renewable raw materials based on a mass balance approach and meets the ISCC PLUS standard, achieving net zero emissions.
Loopamid?: In January 2024, BASF launched PA6 made entirely from waste textiles. Through technological innovation, BASF has recycled waste polyamide 6 textiles and transformed them into new, high-quality synthetic fibers and materials that can be recycled multiple times, with performance comparable to virgin polyamide, demonstrating a new height in the circular economy.
Rilsan? PA11, known for its excellent flexibility, impact resistance, and low density, is easier to install in narrow spaces. It meets the various needs of complex piping systems, efficiently managing heat inside battery packs while ensuring safety. It is a reliable solution for thermal management systems, particularly suitable for transporting coolant between radiators and battery packs.
TROGAMID? eCO Impact 75 uses a mass balance method during production, reducing fossil raw material use by 30%. This product has 88% high transparency, excellent chemical stability, and resistance to cracking and breaking, suitable for various applications such as protective eyewear and electrical or mechanical housings.
Evonik launched PA12-based INFINAM? 6013 P and 6014 P 3D printing powders at Formnext 2024, designed for SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) with excellent flowability, homogeneous sintering, and carbon-black encapsulated core-shell structure for improved UV resistance and durability. These materials are ideal for aerospace, automotive, and high-temperature light exposure environments.
Lanxess introduced a 100% mechanically recycled polyamide automotive intake manifold. This product won the most prestigious award in the powertrain category at the 22nd SPE Automotive Innovation Awards.
Lanxess unveiled new bio-based engineering polymer products at Fakuma 2024, including Radilon D (PA 610) and Radilon P (PA 56), made primarily from castor oil. These products feature excellent hydrolysis resistance and dimensional stability.
Product 3: Electric Bicycle Rear Swing ArmLanxess launched a rear swing arm made from a special blend of polyamide 66 and glass fiber reinforcement, which has higher strength and lower moisture sensitivity compared to standard PA66, capable of withstanding continuous and strong pressure.
On September 3, 2024, Syensqo announced the development of the Amodel? PPA battery module structure, co-developed with General Motors. This design won the Altair Enlighten Award in the lightweight module category, achieving a 37% weight reduction and 25% cost savings through component integration.
Syensqo introduced the Omnix? ECHO series, containing 33-98% mass-balanced recycled materials, derived from post-consumer/industrial recycling sources, significantly reducing carbon footprints. These materials provide mechanical properties and flowability comparable to new PA6/PA66, suitable for appliances and consumer products like coffee machines, blenders, kitchen appliances, tableware, and razor holders.
Produced using the mass balance approach, the material contains up to 98% recycled content, reducing the product's carbon footprint (PCF) by up to 56%. This makes it an ideal alternative to traditional polyamide resins.
Omnix? FC 6000 ECHO--HPPA Series (Food Contact Certified):Exceeds the performance of existing PA new materials, and includes the industry's first HPPA-modified material certified for food contact. It contains 33% recycled content and can reduce the product's carbon footprint by 34%.
Omnix? 6000 ECHO--HPPA Series (Non-Food Contact):Outperforms polyamide PA6 or PA66-based materials. Produced using the mass balance approach, it contains up to 83% recycled content and can reduce the product's carbon footprint by 45%.
In 2024, Ube Industries launched its U-BE-INFINITY? brand, which includes bio-based and recyclable series. This brand helps with carbon neutrality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting resource conservation and reuse. Products include ISCC PLUS certified sustainable caprolactam, bio-based nylon, PCR/PIR mechanically recycled nylon, and multiple-recycling compatible masterbatch nylon.
Recycled Carbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon CompositesThis product series includes nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 12, and other matrix materials. The mechanical performance retention of recycled carbon fiber exceeds 90%, making it suitable for automotive, sports, and other fields.
Envalior, in collaboration with Italy's Union Binding Company, introduced a sustainable ski binding made from Durethan? Blue (nylon). The core part of the binding features high rigidity and responsive performance, while the frame is softer and more flexible than traditional ski bindings, offering a unique skiing experience and greater freestyle flexibility.
Product 2: Electric Vehicle Charging Gun ShellEnvalior’s Akulon? PA6 and PA66 materials provide a balanced solution for mechanical strength, aesthetics, and cost in electric vehicle charging gun plugs. Compared to flame-retardant polyamide, Akulon? is more damage-resistant, with a wider working temperature range suitable for outdoor use, meeting fire and electrical safety standards for fast-charging plugs (IEC 62196 standard).
Zytel? XMP70G50 is a PA66 resin reinforced with 50% short glass fibers, specifically designed for injection molding, offering high durability and fatigue resistance for automotive chassis and structural components. It also delivers superior mechanical strength and processability compared to other thermoplastics.
Zytel? HPN series products reduce weight by about 30% compared to traditional materials, optimizing environmental footprints, improving dielectric properties, reducing thickness, and enhancing laser plating functionality. The enhanced flowability simplifies processing, offering greater design versatility and ensuring precision parts maintain dimensional stability and high rigidity in devices such as smartphones, AR/VR devices, and wearables.
Asahi Kasei, in collaboration with Italian polyamide 6 (PA6) manufacturer Aquafil S.p.A., signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a new 3D printing material combining Aquafil’s ECONYL? chemically recycled PA6 with Asahi Kasei's cellulose nanofibers (CNF). This CNF/ECONYL? PA6 composite material shows excellent formability and strength, with broad prospects for high-performance applications in the automotive and aerospace industries.
