PARTICULATE MINERAL REINFORCED POLYAMIDE -- A NEW VALUE ANALYSIS APPROACH FOR AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS

The favorable economics of injection molded thermoplastic parts have accelerated their growth in automotive components where satisfactory performance of such parts has been demonstrated. This paper describes a new particulate mineral reinforced polyamide (nylon) material development (PMRN) in terms of properties, price/performance aspects, comparison to earlier engineering thermoplastics, and suggested automotive applications. PMRN offers the automotive design engineer a new thermoplastic material performance option incorporating high rigidity, high heat resistance, high creep resistance, and excellent chemical resistance, together with very rapid molding cycles while more free of sinks and at a cost per cubic inch generally below these other materials. Design and processing details are also discussed.