EcoPaxx®

Moisture uptake:

EcoPaXX's® combination of short C4 chain and long C10 chain results in a unique balance of high crystallinity/stiffness combined with low moisture uptake and high chemical resistance. Specifically, EcoPaXX® PA410 has 30% lower moisture uptake than PA66 while exhibiting similar glass transition (70°C / 158°F) and melt temperature (250°C / 482°F). As a result, EcoPaXX® has the highest conditioned modulus (1,7GPa) among aliphatic polyamides.

Hydrolysis resistance:

EcoPaXX® has specialized food contact and drinking water grades, which are approved by all major institutions (e.g., KTW, W270, NSF61, WRAS, ACS, EU 11/2011, FDA). EcoPaXX is approved for both warm and hot water applications. Due to its low moisture uptake and high mechanical strength, EcoPaXX® shows excellent hydrolysis resistance with no water leakage in lifetime cycle tests up to 1 million cycles. EcoPaXX® drinking water grades have higher Tg of approximately 85°C (185°F) and show superior long-term hydrolysis resistance in hot water aging (110°C / 230°F) compared to low Tg PPA.

Low carbon footprint:

EcoPaXX® carbon footprint is assessed cradle-to-gate, using Envalior‘s in-house lifecycle assessment experts. EcoPaXX® has the lowest carbon footprint amongst common polyamides, including biobased polyamides. The Carbon footprint can be lowered further if biomass balancing is used for the C4 monomer. This is an option available for certain grades upon customer request. Mass balancing does not change material properties and is externally certified through ISCC.vOur team can assist with calculations for specific EcoPaXX® grades, and we also work with our customers on cradle-to-grave assessments for specific end applications.

High dielectric strength:

EcoPaXX® has several grades that are engineered to meet V2 and V0 flammability and high glow-wire temperatures. All EcoPaXX® grades are halogen-free and hence do not release associated toxic compounds upon burning. EcoPaXX has similar dielectric strength as PA66 in the dry state, but significantly higher dielectric strength after conditioning. This makes EcoPaXX® more insulating, resulting in higher safety for electrical applications. It also means insulating parts with EcoPaXX® can be designed thinner than with PA66 without sacrificing product safety.

Processing:

EcoPaXX® can be processed very similarly to PA66.  It has a very wide processing window (270-310°C / 518-590°F) and high melt stability. Its faster crystallization rate vs. PA66 results up to 20% lower cycle times. At the same time, EcoPaXX® has excellent surface finish even with 30%GF content, making it suitable for decorative applications, such as engine covers.

Salt resistance:

EcoPaXX® is extremely resistant to CaCl2 salt with no mechanical failure even after 2,500 hours being submerged in the solution, especially when compared to approximately 5 hours for PA66.

Water/glycol aging:

EcoPaXX® has approximately 20% higher retention of tensile properties compared to PA66 grade. This results in a five-fold increase in weld line performance (tested on tensile bars), as well as a three-fold increase in product lifetime (tested on automotive expansion tank, design dependent). Therefore, it is possible to design parts with lower thickness and hence weight compared to PA66 while maintaining similar or higher performance.