Polyamide grade that has specifically been designed to address vertical body panel needs is electro-paintable, withstands e-coat temperature up to 200degC and simplifies mould tool design.

Rhodia Engineering Plastics has announced the introduction of Technyl A 238P5 M25 blk 5N polyamide. This new grade has been specifically designed to meet the critical technical requirements for automotive vertical body panels. The technical characteristics of Technyl A 238P5 M25 meet the requirements for a better performing material at high temperature and, in particular, with respect to the e-coat process temperature increase announced by many car makers for the near future.

Parts made of Technyl A 238P5 M25 such as front fenders can then be assembled prior to the electro-coating bath (on-line process) and successfully pass through the curing oven at a temperature of around 200C for 30 minutes.

Successful sag test results, up to 220degC, demonstrate the substantial advantage of Technyl polyamide performance versus other thermoplastic competitive materials.

The excellent thermal resistance of Technyl A 238P5 M25 is due to a pure PA66 polymer matrix modified with specific fillers.

Technyl A 238P5 M25 can be painted by using electrostatic painting systems without conductive primers.

Parts made of this new Technyl grade exhibit a high paint transfer efficiency resulting in VOC emissions reduction as well as cost savings.

The paint thickness uniformity observed with large parts results from a low variation in volume and surface conductivity thanks to the specific technology developed by Rhodia, and is an additional benefit of this new product.

Technyl A 238P5 M25 confirms the typical advantages of plastics exterior body panel applications in comparison to metals: * Weight reduction up to 40% vs.

steel.

* Better low speed impact behavior.

* Design flexibility and more opportunity for complex parts design.

* Good chemical resistance.

* No corrosion.

Furthermore, Technyl A 238P5 M25 offers specific advantages vs.

other thermoplastic materials in use for such applications: * Improved heat resistance.

* Better dimensional stability due to a lower CTLE.

* Easy processing on standard injection molding machines.

* Better productivity through the reduction of injection moulding cycle time and lower part reject rate.

* Mold design simplification.

Technyl A 238P5 M25 has been successfully tested on parts such as exterior front panels.

The parts were submitted to the typical automotive standard tests including: * Resistance to e-coat process up to 200 degC for 30 minutes and dimensional shrinkage evaluation.

* Electrostatic painting on production line and measurement of the surface aspect.

The parts were submitted to e-coat, painted, and then dried at a typical temperature of 140 to 160 degC for 20 to 30 minutes.

* Adhesion tests using the most common automotive painting systems.

Parts were submitted to water immersion, thermal shock, jet of hot water at high pressure, etc * Impact test at room temperature and low (-20degC to -30degC) temperature conditions.

Rhodia Engineering Plastics is promoting Technyl A 238P5 M25 for both in-line and on-line painted parts, for example: vertical panels, fuel filler flaps, rocker pillars, front grills, and exterior trim applications.

Rhodia Engineering Plastics can support its' customers in the development of new applications through its' technical application developments centers worldwide.

Appropriate support is available from the concept to the production of body panels including assistance with mould design, CAE, process optimization and testing on components.