Introducing XIRAN® SMA co-polymers

Polyscope Polymers produces superior new product with proven weight saving and reduced cycle times for producers of automotive and industrial parts.

Polyscope Polymers, Europe’s newest and foremost manufacturer and supplier of Styrene Maleic Anhydride (SMA) co-polymers has introduced its XIRAN® SMA product range. The product is manufactured in Europe, and provides a significantly better alternative for users of existing SMA products. In addition, the product's properties and performance may well provide new opportunities for parts manufacturers who currently use other materials such as Polyamide, PPLGF, PPEPDM or ABS blends. In recent tests for a specific automotive application, XIRAN® delivered a significant weight saving compared to glass reinforced Polyamide as well as a considerable decrease in cycle-time.

According to managing Director Michael Charles Downs, a veteran with many years of automotive and SMA experience, SMA co-polymers are increasingly being selected by leading car manufacturers for automotive interior components such as instrument panel retainers, air ducts and finishing trim. This choice is driven by the co-polymer’s high temperature stability, adimensional precision and adhesion characteristics, important to attach a soft, foamed skin.

XIRAN® is an impact modified Styrene Maleic Anhydride (SMA) co-polymer. The current XIRAN® product line consists of General purpose “SM” grades and Extra rigid “SG” grades (glass fibre reinforced). For details of all grades see below.

Polyscope’s XIRAN® polymers are available as an engineering plastic with a medium molecular weight and a Maleic Anhydride content of 22-34%. Impact modified XIRAN® SMA sets the standard for automotive interior components. Using proprietary technology developed by DSM and Eindhoven University, Polyscope Polymers is able to provide existing and new users of SMA with strong technical support and application development support.

XIRAN® processing conditions

Key grades for the automotive industry include XIRAN® SM240 and XIRAN® SG320 (for details see below). XIRAN® has processing parameters which are comparable to those of other engineering plastics, so can be processed on conventional types of injection moulding machines.

All XIRAN® grades can be moulded using conventional sprue and runner designs. Mould construction may be carried out with similar tool steels as used for ABS, ABS/PC and mPPO. General purpose XIRAN® grades have a mould shrinkage of 0.5-0.8%, extra rigid Xiran grades have a mould shrinkage of 0.3-0.5%.

The optimum melt temperature lies between 245˚C and 275˚C. Temperature settings along the barrel of between 230˚C and 250˚C are recommended. For optimum surface appearance the mould temperature should be between 60˚C and 80˚C. This will also keep internal stresses to

a minimum.

All XIRAN® grades are easily recyclable and characterized by an outstanding balance of heat resistance and impact strength – when compared to traditional SMAs. Furthermore, they have an excellent shot-to-shot reproducibility. Thanks to a flexible production process, Polyscope is able to supply standard or tailor-made XIRAN® grades all in natural or coloured granules.

Polyscope Polymers - functionality and vision

Polyscope Polymers sets out to be more than a single materials supplier. According to Polyscope Chairman Uwe Wascher, the company wants to be recognised as an innovator in the automotive industry: "Our product is exciting, because it offers our customers a new and better alternative to existing materials. And our company is extremely flexible – so we can support our customers’ productivity objectives as well as drive automotive performance enhancements.”

Polyscope Polymers (www.polyscope.eu)

Polyscope Polymers was founded in 2006 by automotive plastics industry veterans Michael Downs and Josef-Michael Eder together with strategic investors. From its production site in Geleen, The Netherlands, Polyscope Polymers is able to meet the needs for SMA co-polymers – supported by world-class technology and application development. SMA copolymers are used extensively in automotive, paper and industrial applications.

Overview of XIRAN® grades

General purpose “SM” grades

XIRAN® general purpose injection moulding grades possess a heat resistance between 117 and 135˚C (Vicat B50). These grades are well suited for automotive applications such as windscreen demisters, front grilles and bezels, side strips, chrome plated logos, lamp housings and reflectors, fan motor housings, ventilation grilles, air inlets, decorated dashboard parts (with wood trim, instrument housings and safety belt clips.

They are also a cost-effective material in a broad range of applications in the electronics equipment, leisure, appliances, communications and lighting industries. These include white goods frames, (microwave) oven doors and panels, electric motor housings, chrome plated sanitary parts, camera components, car and mobile phones, kitchen appliances, laptop computers and office equipment.

Through their outstanding electrical properties and excellent dimensional stability, XIRAN® general purpose grades are also well suited for electromechanical components such as connectors, junction blocks, bobbins and switches.

XIRAN® SM200: a general purpose grade with the highest impact strength. It has high heat resistance and offers important secondary properties such as good chemical resistance and excellent dimensional stability. It displays high performance in painting, printing, hot foil stamping, ultrasonic welding and bonding techniques, and can be vacuum metallised and chrome plated .

XIRAN® SM300: a grade which offers higher heat resistance than XIRAN® SM200 (at a slightly lower impact strength). It displays important secondary properties such as good chemical resistance, excellent dimensional stability and the possibility to chromium plate.

Extra rigid “SG” grades (glass fibre reinforced)

XIRAN® extra-rigid grades are glass fibre reinforced materials with glass loads from 10 to 40%. Interaction between the polar SMA co-polymer and the glass fibres produces an unmatched property profile. Heat resistance varies from 125˚ to 150˚C (Vicat B50).

The extra rigid grades are well suited for automotive applications such as painted mirror housings, windscreen demisters, front end carriers, rear appliques, air intake grilles, underbody shields, and sunroof frames.

They are also a cost-effective solution in equipment, appliances, leisure and lighting applications such as air supply fans, actuator wheels, base plates, lamp frames and camera components.

Like the general purpose grades, XIRAN® extra-rigid grades have outstanding electrical properties and dimensional stability, making them well suited for electromechanical components such as connectors, junction blocks, bobbins and switches.

XIRAN® SG224 / SG320: As this grade gives the best surface quality of the extra-rigid grades, it is most suitable for painted automotive applications. It combines high heat resistance with good impact resistance and excellent flow behaviour.

Polyscope Polymers specifically targets automotive manufacturers in Europe and China.