Nylon nanocomposite resin; transparent nylons

Plastics Engineering, Sept, 2006 by Hope Molinaro

Nycoa (Nylon Corp. of America, Inc.) of Manchester, N.H., has engineered a nylon nanocomposite to meet CARB (California Air Resource Board) and U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requirements for gas permeation of fuel tanks and fuel systems.

NanoSeal offers a single-step monolayer solution to gas permeation in fuel tanks and fuel hoses.

Processed in the same way as a neat nylon, NanoSeal can be injection molded, blow molded, or extruded to suit the application, the company says.

In Nycoa's proprietary manufacturing process, nanoclays are "fully exfoliated in-situ" during polymerization of a high-melt-strength nylon 6, says the company. The clay "tethers" to the nylon-6 polymer chain, resulting in a material that affords greater flexural stiffness, heat deflection temperature, and dimensional stability.

Nycoa has also developed transparent nylon resins called Nycotrans for applications where conventional transparent polymers such as polycarbonate and polystyrene are unsuited, especially under harsh solvent conditions. Exhibiting high impact strength, excellent chemical resistance, and hermetic weldability to nylon 6 and nylon 66, Nycotrans can be molded or extruded and are available in UV-stabilized grades. Uses include filter housings, sun and safety glasses, and medical applications.

Nycoa; www.nycoa.com.