Another grade of its “ForTii” polyphthalamide (PPA) series has been launched by Royal DSM (Heerlen / The Netherlands; www.dsm.com), as it continues to develop alternatives to the metals used in cars. Launched at “K 2016” in October, ForTii Ace is targeted at replacing die-cast metal in applications that require a high and steadfast mechanical performance at constant-use temperatures of up to 150 °C, as well as superior chemical stability.

“With ForTii Ace, DSM is taking an important step forward into die-cast metal replacement territory, enabling OEMs to replace metals in applications that have been too challenging up to now,” stated Konraad Dullaert, DSM’s global business manager for ForTii. Potential uses include powertrain, transmission, chassis and thermal management applications, while many industrial applications that incorporate die-cast designs could also benefit from using the PPA as a replacement, Dullaert noted.

ForTii Ace has a glass transition temperature – the point at which amorphous areas of a material begin to lose their rigidity and hardness – of 160 °C, significantly higher than other PPAs (including existing ForTii grades) and at least 80 °C higher than PA 6.6. It also has higher resistance to various automotive oils and chemicals, and some grades of ForTii Ace will even provide cost-effective alternatives to PEEK in selected applications.

The Ace series will also include grades with various types of fillers and reinforcements, including glass and carbon fibres at addition rates of up to 50%. The launch follows DSM’s introduction in July of ForTii MX grades which are said to have enhanced mechanical strength and toughness across a broad temperature range – see Plasteurope.com of 28.07.2016.

Automotive OEMs are expected to eliminate around 200 kg on average from every car manufactured by 2025 in order to meet tightening CO₂ emission levels. DSM said its next-generation high-temperature polyamides are able to meet more stringent requirements than ever before.