Torlon powders

With the aid of a tertiary amine, Torlon AI-30 becomes the water-soluble analog of Torlon AI-10. The wet powder consists of 35% polymer solids, 63% water, and 2% NMP. It is made water-soluble by forming an ammonium salt with the amic acid groups on the polymer backbone. Torlon AI-30 aqueous-based solutions are environmentally friendly and allow the formulator to produce a high-performance coating or adhesive without needing a dipolar aprotic solvent such as NMP. 

Torlon AI-50 is another water-soluble polyamide-imide similar to Torlon AI-30 in solids composition and coating performance. Because of a slightly different polymer backbone, it also does not have the MDA handling restrictions, plus it has a lower viscosity at the same solids level compared to AI-30. 

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Thermoplastic Condensation Polyimides. These include General Electric s Ultem Resin and Amoco s Torlon polyamideimide although the latter is no longer offered as injection moldable pellets, but as compression moldable powder and in solution. Another resin, P-84, originally developed by Upjohn but now made by Lenzing (Austria), is based on benzoquinone dianhydride and aromatic isocyanates. 

On the other hand, PAI foams can be produced intentionally. For example, satisfactory foam structure and properties can be obtained by heating a commercial Torlon PAI powder in a closed mold to above glass transition temperatures for a time sufficient to soften and fuse the particles. Then, absorbed volatiles expand the polymer and fill the mold. The residence times range from several minutes to several hours. After heating. 

The leading global provider of polyamide-imide powders and compounded resins is Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC, with the resin under the registered trademark Torlon [23]. The major commercial grades are listed below. 

Alternatively, Torlon AI-10 powder may be formulated using a mixed organic aqueous system, where water is the major solvent component, as shown in Table 12.3 [26]. AI-10 is approximately 50% imidized along the polymer backbone. The remaining amic acid groups can form hydrophUic ammonium complexes, allowing a high portion of water in the formulation. 

The PATs used were Torlon 4000Tf-40 (PAI-1) and Torlon 4203L (PAI-2) supplied by Amoco Performance Products. The thermotropic liquid crystal polymer (LCP) used was Vectra A950, which is a random copolyester delivered fi om HBA-HNA (Hoechst Celanese). The PAl-1 was in fine powder form with no additives while the PAI-2 was in pellet containing 0.5% PTFE and 3% TiOj. 

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