Recently, Toray Industries Co., Ltd. announced the development of a new polymer that retains the excellent heat resistance, hardness and strength of polyamide 6 (PA6), while having 15 times the bending fatigue limit of conventional polymers. Potential application markets for this polymer include automobiles, home appliances, and sporting goods. Toray hopes to start a comprehensive sample work in fiscal 2021, while cultivating the application of the new polymer in different industrial materials.
PA6 is an engineering plastic with a wide range of applications, including automotive engine compartments and equipment housings. PA6 resin added an elastomer can resist fatigue and prolong the service life. However, this elastomer will reduce the heat resistance, hardness and strength of PA6. Therefore, the challenge for many years is to develop a new material with all these desirable properties.
Toray`s research focus is on polyrotaxane, which has movable molecular bonds and is a polymer whose structure is movable under the action of external forces. By finely dispersing polyrotaxane in the resin, we strive to balance the inherent properties and fatigue resistance of PA6.
Toray utilizes proprietary Nanoalloy® microstructure control technology to maximize the effectiveness of polyrotaxane by dispersing polyrotaxane in 10-nanometer PA6 crystals. The resulting flexible stress-dispersion mechanism forms new polymers. Tests conducted at one of the world's largest synchrotron radiation facilities "Spring-8" in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan have confirmed that this new polymer can inhibit the changes in the crystal structure of PA6 when subjected to external forces.
Toray will give full play to its core capabilities in synthetic organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, biotechnology and nanotechnology to realize its corporate philosophy of contributing to society by creating new value.