ASAHI KASEI EUROPE GmbH

Polyamide 66 is one of the most important engineering plastics in the world due to its strength, heat-, oil, and abrasion resistance, and workability. As one of only four fully integrated PA66 polymerization manufacturers, we are always capable of independently supplying the market. Our compounding technologies allow for global quality with local production, and our special polymer technologies make the material itself special.

We have learned a lot over the course of years working alongside and within the automotive industry, and our new technologies are a direct result of these insights. CAE is one of these key technologies, which has allowed us, in cooperation with our partners, to develop light weight vehicles by replacing various metal parts.

LEONA 14G series:
Standard glass-fiber reinforced PA66 material with excellent high strength, fatigue strength, creep resistance and heat aging resistance. As the most standard material line-up in LEONA material, the 14G series is widely used in automotive applications such as cylinder head covers, torque rods, engine mounts, bush and knocking sensor housings, and it enjoys a very high reputation with the customers.

Faced with advanced market requirements, we have developed a super high-flow grade to make thinner wall thickness possible in cylinder head cover applications without sacrificing heat aging resistance. Technical data will be available soon.

LEONA 90G series:
Glass-fiber reinforced PA66/PA6I material with excellent surface appearance and high mechanical strength. Though filled with 60% glass fiber, its Class A surface makes it possible to omit the painting process with lower mold temperature than competitors’ during injection molding process. Major applications include door mirror stays, roof rails and HVAC vanes.

New generation 92G, higher mechanical strength line-up introduction will be available soon.

LEONA 53G series:
Glass-fiber reinforced PA66/PA612 material with low water absorption, hydrolysis resistance and calcium chloride resistance. With its low water absorption and high hydrolysis resistance, this material is applicable for special injection processes using water, such as WIT. Major applications include radiator tanks, cooling pipes, and thermos valves.

LEONA Durelia series:Glass-fiber reinforced PA66 materials with improved long-term heat resistance to be used in the high temperature range of 150C to 230C. Engine downsizing with turbo charger requires higher heat resistance, and here we have a solution. Major applications include turbo ducts, turbo cooling pipes, and intercooler tanks.

Durelia introduction will be available soon.
LEONA BG series:
Glass-fiber reinforced PA610 containing plant-derived components with low water absorption, hydrolysis resistance and calcium chlorides resistance. Major applications include radiator tanks and oil pumps.

LEONA low friction grade:
PA66/PTFE alloy material with significantly improved low friction coefficient and wear resistance. Our special compounding technology actualizes uniform micro dispersion, generating excellent performance. This series was developed for chain guides and various gear applications.

XYRON™ (modified polyphenylene ether, or "mPPE") is an engineering plastic with very unique properties, which is used as a polymer alloy in combination with other materials such as PS, PA, PP, PPS. As the 2nd largest manufacturer, we are able to provide reliable products to our customers all over the world.

XYRON’s electrical stability helps to make renewable energy products safer. PA alloy materials add dimensional stability to standard PA without increasing weight, thus making this technology ideal for the automotive industry.

Polyacetal resin (POM) is a well-balanced engineering plastic featuring superior mechanical properties such as strength and rigidity, as well as excellent friction and wear characteristics, dimensional stability and oil/solvent resistance. We are the only supplier in the world who produces both Homo and Co-polymer, and our broad line-up also includes ecofriendly grades like the low emission TENAC™ Z series.

Polypropylene is one of the most widely-used materials in the automotive industry, but our focus is on glass-filled products produced via our chemical coupling technologies. In order to optimize the cost/performance ratio we enhance adhesion between the glass fiber reinforcement and polypropylene matrix.

With our vast experience in replacing higher hierarchy materials such as PBT and long GF PP, we are able to assist those who are considering reducing the weight of their products.

SunForce™ is a foam material combining the characteristics of modified polyphenylene ether (m-PPE) resin and foam beads. Certified with UL 94 V-0 (Standard for Safety of Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances) flammability by the safety certification organisation Underwriters Laboratories, SunForce™ contributes to an overall product safety.
Consisting of small-sized beads, SunForce™ features high moldability which contributes to assembly time reduction and lower production costs. It also allows the molding of complex structures while maintaining strength and rigidity. SunForce™’s thin-wall molding ability contributes to compact and space-saving product design.
Its outstanding properties make it a perfect material for applications in battery packs or as a composite core material.

Asahi Kasei is one of only four fully integrated polyamide manufacturers worldwide – and is able to produce PA 6.6 completely from monomer to compound. Based on this expertise, the company is currently developing the PA Foam, a foam material based on polyamide – the first of its kind worldwide. It is offering solutions to both aforementioned challenges in the automotive industry – stiffness, me-chanical strength and heat resistance for use in structural lightweight applications of cars, and noise reducing characteristics.

The PA Foam features the typical heat, chemical and oil resistant properties of polyamide, mixed with an outstanding rigidity or noise reducing quality – depending on the shape of the beads. PA Foam consisting of round-shaped beads features a strong rigidity, making it a promising alternative material for aluminum and metal in structural applications, as well as for use for insulators, ducts, spacers, or other lightweight parts of the battery case of electrified vehicles.

Noise reducing properties through C- and macaroni-shaped beads

PA Foam with a C- or macaroni-shape provides noise insulation in addition to the typical polyamide properties. Possible applications can be found everywhere around the car, especially in the engine compartment, where the material can unfold its unique qualities. Used for engine covers, it does not only contribute to lightweight, but also significantly reduces the radiating engine noise, making the car quieter in total.

These noise reduction qualities of the foam also contribute to an enhanced comfort inside the car. With the rising popularity of car sharing and the expected introduction of autonomous driving, the automotive interior is becoming more and more important as a space of relaxation and comfort – a space of living. The PA Foam can significantly contribute to the quality of this new in-vehicle living space – for example to the insulation and reduction of noise radiating from the car itself, but also to reduce noise coming from the outside. Possible applications can be found in the roof and bonnet, but also in the seat and floor structure.

Foam beads made of polyamide can be processed in a steam molding process on standard polysty-rene molding equipment. Furthermore, a significant reduction of resin for the production process can be achieved, contributing to an overall cost reduction.

“Asahi Kasei introduces new possibilities of foam materials by launching the PA Foam with un-precedented high heat resistance to the market. In Europe, where environmental awareness is strong, the need for lightweight applications is expected to further increase in the future, especially in the automotive industry. Our foam opens new doors for applications, which at the same time require lightweight and heat resistance. In addition, the noise reduction properties resulting from the special shape of the beads will meet the growing demand regarding applications that reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)”, Takuji Namatame, Senior Manager of the Corporate R&D Division at Asahi Kasei Europe explains.