Overview of Current Applications

As briefly menfioned in section 10.2.1, polyamides are selected for their performance and thus specific properties with only a minor price pressure. In recent years, the automotive market has evolved to become the single largest application field for moulded polyamides. They are selected for their excellent resistance to chemicals (such as gasoline and other petroleum products) and the environment (such as water and light) plus their relatively high temperature stability. Much of the growth mentioned in section 10.1.2 is derived directly from this market to the point that the total polyamide consumption is stipulated and almost dependent on the success of new car and tmck production. 

It is conceivable that the bio-based polyamides might also find many suitable appUcations in the broad area of automotive and tmck parts, but due to their current price situation and low capacities it is highly unlikely that this will be the dominant segment. As seen in Table 10.1, the bio-based polyamides have a different set of properties compared to the more price sensitive short-chain polyamides. To gain market entrance, it would be wise to focus on appUcation 

Company Trade Name Basis PA410 PA610 PA1010 PA1012 PA10T PA11 

Notes Notable capacity i.e. larger than 1 kton/a. Solvay includes previous activities of Rhodia Wuxi includes previous activities of DuPont Arkema recently acquired the activities of Hipro. 

As a final note, it is also conceivable that several petro-based and bio-based polyamides will be copolymerized or blended to tailor to meet the needs of certain application areas. In essence, this would create an ideal combination of properties to facilitate an ideal price-to-performance ratio. It should then be mentioned that this will further expand the product portfolio and make listed comparisons, such as in Table 10.1, nearly impossible to construct. The future of biopolyamides may be in consolidation and a clear-cut focus on certain defined applications areas demanding their specific properties. The actual development remains to be seen. 

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This chapter builds on the information contained on the same subject in Chap. 13 of the first edition of the Polymer Blends Handbook by providing an overview of current applications of polymer blends and alloys with an outlook towards developing areas. A dual approach employed herein to portray the field covers both a description of polymer blend technologies directed toward solving application issues related to societal megatrends, as well as the generic performance/ testing specifications required for products in broad areas of conunerce amenable to polymer blend applications. 

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