Last week, France-based chemical firm Solvay (through its Polyamide & Intermediates business) announced its plans to invest in a polyamide 6,10 production unit at the Saint-Fons Belle-Etoile site in Lyon in order to “better serve customers seeking for more eco-friendly solutions.”
No other information was given such as how much PA 6,10 will be produced in the new unit. Solvay said it is a major global producer of PA 6,6 polymers and intermediates, which include adipic acid and HMD. However, there was no indication in the press release that the company also produces PA10, which is the bio-based component of the PA 6,10.
Solvay is currently marketing its PA 6,10 products under the brand Technyl eXten, which was first introduced in 2009. The PA 6,10 is said to be functionally similar to PA 6 and PA 6,6 resins but have a heightened high-temperature and chemical resistance as well as rigidity that put it into the category of a high-performance plastics.
Solvay’s PA 6,10 can be used in automotive applications such as in flexible fluid-transfer tubes, high-end fittings and adapters for engine fuel systems.
You can check out the blog’s recent post on other bio-based polyamides. Speaking of which, major polyamide producer Arkema (also based in France) recently announced the launch of its new castor-based polyamide 10,10 under the trademark Rilsan® T range.
The new long-chain polyamides line can have a renewable-based content of up to 100% and is said to exhibit excellent degree of rigidity (especially when reinforced with glass fiber), thermal stability, permeability to petrol and gas and processability.
The various PA 10,10 grades can be used in applications such as in automotives (monolayer or multilayer brake lines for trucks and fuel lines for cars), industrial pipes, cables, and injection molded parts for sports or electronics applications.
Arkema noted its last year’s acquisition of Chinese companies Casda — a global sebacic acid producer, and Hipro Polymers — also a producer of castor based polyamides PA 6,10; PA 6,12; PA 10,10; and PA 10,12 under the brand Hiprolon. This year, Arkema also purchased a stake in castor oil producer Ihsedu Agrochem, a subsidiary of India-based Jayant Agro.
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