ORLANDO, FLA. — Radici Group, the Italian-headquartered materials firm, outlined the benefits of its Radilon and Radistrong nylon products at NPE 2015.
Erico Spini, marketing and application development director at Radici Group Plastics (Booth S23030), said that customers, notably those in the automotive sector, were becoming more demanding in their requirements — longer product lifespan; ease of processing, and competitive pricing.
As a result Radici was investing in more research and development to offer high-end products that met the demands of a range of sectors.
Radilon's high heat resistant nylon 6/6 featured “excellent high-heat aging resistance at air temperatures of up to 210° C,” Spini said. “We've introduced a stabilizer to enable it to last longer in order to meet automotive requirements,” he added.
Meanwhile the group's new Radilon XTreme line showcased high heat resistant nylon specialties developed for hot-air applications at continuous service temperatures of up to 230° C and its Radistrong long-fiber reinforced nylon 6 and 6/6 grades were ideal for metal replacement applications.
“The XTreme product is comparable and often performs better than a number of other grades in areas such as ease of processing, surface aspect, heat ageing properties, stiffness, strength, and impact resistance.
“It has a number of under-the-hood applications,” Spini said, “and has already been approved by a number of OEMs including BMW, plus we are already supplying to number of Tier 1 suppliers. The feedback so far is very encouraging.”
In the metal replacement area, Radici has a glass-filled nylon 6/6, with glass content ranging between 35 to 60 percent, the latter being its new Radistrong X7957 grade. The product is ideal for engine mountings and Spini said a “critical part” was being developed with an unnamed partner.
Radici had also developed a nylon 6 range, SURV500 (50 percent glass filled) and SURV600 (60 percent). These products experienced easier flow, fewer fiber breakages and high productivity vs. other materials. End uses included machinery housings, while a chair armrest was being developed “with an important U.K. customer.”
Meanwhile Radici's Radiflam range offered excellent heat resistance, Spini said, aiming for end products such as turbo air ducts, engine covers and electrical motor components.
Spini also highlighted Radici's long-chain nylon 6/10 and 6/12; the group's D nylon 6/10 having a smaller environmental footprint thanks to its component of biological origin. End uses included pneumatic and air brake tubing, while it was easy to process, was price competitive and was at an “advanced approval stage” with a major automaker.