We live in a world of plastics, but most of them are opaque, hiding their inner workings. But what if we could see through these materials, revealing their beauty and complexity? Enter transparent nylon, a revolutionary plastic that’s changing the way we design and manufacture products.
The See-Through Revolution:
Transparent nylon is a high-performance engineering plastic that’s not just strong and durable, but also crystal clear. It’s like a chameleon, blending seamlessly into its surroundings while offering exceptional strength and resilience. This unique combination of properties has made transparent nylon a star in a wide range of industries, from automotive to medical.
A History of Innovation:
The story of transparent nylon begins in 1960, when Dynamit Nobel unveiled the first see-through version of this remarkable material. Since then, companies like Evonik and Arkema have continued to refine and improve transparent nylon, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with this versatile plastic.
A World of Possibilities:
Transparent nylon is a chameleon, adapting to a wide range of applications:
- Automotive: Transparent nylon is used to create sleek and stylish car parts, like headlights, taillights, and instrument panels. Its durability and resistance to impact make it perfect for these demanding applications.
- Electronics: Transparent nylon is used to create clear housings for electronic devices, like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Its ability to transmit light makes it ideal for creating sleek and modern designs.
- Home Appliances: Transparent nylon is used to create stylish and functional kitchen appliances, like coffee makers, blenders, and toasters. Its resistance to heat and chemicals makes it perfect for these demanding environments.
- Medical Devices: Transparent nylon is used to create medical devices, like surgical instruments, implants, and drug delivery systems. Its biocompatibility and resistance to sterilization make it a safe and reliable choice for these critical applications.
The Future is Transparent:
Transparent nylon is a material with a bright future. As technology advances and our demands for innovative materials increase, transparent nylon is poised to play a key role in shaping the world around us. Its ability to combine strength, durability, and transparency makes it a perfect material for creating the next generation of products, from sleek and stylish consumer goods to life-saving medical devices.
Transparent nylon is a hidden hero of the plastics industry, quietly revolutionizing the way we design and manufacture products. Its unique combination of properties, versatility, and growing demand make it a material with a clear vision, shaping the future of innovation and design.
01 Overview of transparent nylon
Nylon resin is a semi-crystalline polymer, most of which have a white translucent appearance. For example, PA6 has a yellowish translucent appearance, PA66 has a white translucent appearance, PA610 has a milky white translucent appearance, etc., with a light transmittance of 50%-80%. between.
Due to the rapid development of the automotive and electronic industries, the poor transparency of nylon limits its use in certain aspects, such as automotive oil cups, fuse covers, exhaust pipe connectors, measuring instruments and other devices.
In 1960, Dynamit Nobel took the lead in developing transparent nylon TMDT, whose light transmittance could reach 90%. In 1988, Evonik acquired the chemical department of Nobel Powder Company, thus acquiring the technology of transparent nylon, which was later developed into the Trogamid T series. Subsequently, Japan, the United States, etc. also successively developed. Today, there are many varieties of transparent nylon.
Transparent polyamide (nylon) is a thermoplastic nylon with a microcrystalline or amorphous structure. The light transmittance reaches more than 90%. It is a self-extinguishing material with an oxygen index of 26.8. Its transparency is better than that of polycarbonate (PC) and close to In polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). It has better wear resistance, chemical resistance, flexibility and low density, and is significantly better than PC and PMMA in terms of resistance to environmental stress cracking.
Transparent nylon is widely used in household products, precision optics, electronic equipment, sporting goods, medical care and automotive industries due to its excellent transparency, high thermal stability, good corrosion resistance and excellent mechanical properties. The variety is very rich. With the rise of wearable devices and electronic textiles, there is an increasing demand for lightweight, transparent, low-cost bendable materials. Some nylon materials are considered potential building blocks for the next generation of flexible, transparent electronics.
02 Types of transparent nylon
(1) Semi-aromatic transparent nylon is a transparent nylon produced by the copolymerization of aromatic dibasic acid and aliphatic diamine or aliphatic dibasic acid and aromatic diamine. This is the transparent nylon that currently has the most industrialized products, such as DuPont’s Zytel series products and Selar series products, EMS Company’s Grilamide series products, Dow Chemical Company’s Isonamide series products, etc.
(2) Aromatic transparent nylon is obtained by copolymerizing aromatic dibasic acid and aromatic diamine, such as using 2-amino-6-(4-aminobenzene)-6-methylheptane and isorphenylene diamine. Transparent nylon synthesized from diphenyl formate. Aromatic transparent nylon has a higher proportion of rigid aromatic rings in the main chain, good crystallinity of the polymer, and the best heat resistance and solvent resistance among all polyamides.
(3) Aliphatic transparent nylon is a transparent nylon obtained by copolymerizing aliphatic dibasic acid and aliphatic diamine. Products currently developed include: PA66/6 copolymer, EMS company’s PA6/12 copolymer. Japan has synthesized transparent nylon using caprolactam, octadecylamide and acetic acid as raw materials, which has been used in automobile covers and electronic components. Device; Grilamid W5673, TR55FC Grey9629 transparent nylon 12 produced by EMS company, which is resistant to high and low temperatures, has good toughness and flexibility, and can be used as winter sporting goods.
03 Preparation method of transparent nylon
Transparent nylon can be modified by physical and chemical methods.
1. Chemical method
1) Introducing monomers containing side chains or cyclic structures during copolymerization, destroying the regularity of the molecular chain, reducing the hydrogen bond fraction and crystallinity, and obtaining transparent amorphous products.
2) The linear aliphatic monomer is polycondensed through multiple random co-condensation to obtain a very low crystallinity or amorphous polymer.
2. Physics
1) Add a nucleating agent to form microcrystals, reduce the crystal size to below the wavelength of visible light, and obtain transparent nylon containing small spherulites.
2) Quench the polymer from the molten state to below Tg as quickly as possible to prevent its crystallization and freeze the randomly arranged polymer melt in an amorphous state.
The method of the main transparent nylon suppliers is to introduce monomers containing side groups or ring structures to destroy the regularity of the molecular chain and obtain amorphous or microcrystalline transparent nylon. Common types of transparent nylon include PA MACM12, PA 12/MACMI, PA 6I/X, etc.
Since there are many monomer options for cyclic structures or side chain structures, the composition of almost every brand of transparent nylon is different. Here are two varieties for explanation.
(1) Nylon TMDT
Polytrimethylhexanediamine terephthalamide, referred to as nylon TMDT (TMD is a mixture of 2,2,4 and 2,4,4-trimethylhexanediamine, T is terephthalic acid), its aromatic The family cyclic structure further prevents the molecular bonds between polymer chains, forming an amorphous polymer with high light transmittance.
Nylon TMDT is a transparent nylon first developed and industrialized by the German company Dynamit Nobel. The trade name is “Trogamid T”. Its heat resistance, mechanical properties, mechanical strength and rigidity are comparable to PC and polysulfone. In 1988, it was acquired by Evonik and developed TROGAMID T series transparent nylon products.
(2) PACM12
In 1991, Evonik replaced the aromatic components in TROGAMID T with aliphatic monomers to achieve a semi-crystalline state of the polymer. Because the size of its crystals can only reach the nanometer level, it will not affect the transmission of visible light. Therefore, the material’s high light transmittance is maintained, producing a transparent polyamide with better UV resistance. The trade name is: TROGAMID® CX, which is polymerized from n-dodecyl dibasic acid and a cyclic aliphatic diamine called 4,4-diaminodicyclohexylmethane (PACM). The English abbreviation is: PA PACM12 .
04 Transparent nylon properties
Transparency
Among the common transparent materials, arranged from large to small in transparency, the order is: PMMA, transparent nylon, glass, PC. The transparency of transparent nylon is second only to PMMA. The transparent nylon with a thickness of 2mm has a transmittance of visible light of more than 90%, which can meet the most demanding application requirements.
Chemical resistance
Transparent nylon is resistant to dilute acids, alkalis, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ethers, oils and fats, and is superior to PC and PMMA in terms of resistance to environmental stress cracking. In view of the poor tolerance of traditional transparent nylon to alcohol, various transparent nylon manufacturers have improved on this problem and introduced new varieties that are more resistant to alcohol. Evonik has launched micro-crystalline transparent nylon TROGAMID® CX; Arkema has launched Rilsan® Clear G83O, which contains high long carbon chain fatty structure content, both of which have greatly improved the material’s resistance to alcohol and met a wider range of application needs.
Low density
The density of transparent nylon is 0.99~1.10g/cm3, which is lower than PC’s 1.20g/cm3 and PMMA’s 1.19 g/cm3. Lower density means a more comfortable customer experience, such as the production of sports glasses and sunglasses with a lighter overall weight. The density of some brands is even less than 1.0 g/cm3 and can float on the water.
Wear resistance
Transparent nylon is often used as a shell, requiring the material to have extremely high wear and scratch resistance. Under the test condition of 100 revolutions, the friction coefficient of TROGAMID® CX is 18 mg, which is lower than standard specifications of PC and PMMA and is more wear-resistant. The scratch resistance of TROGAMID® CX is similar to PMMA and better than PC material.
Flexibility
PC and PMMA have larger flexural modulus and are relatively hard materials, while transparent nylon has good flexibility and strong shape memory ability, and can produce more flexible products. Furthermore, orientation significantly increases the indentation hardness and energy absorption rate of clear nylon.
05 Application of transparent nylon
(1) Kitchen appliances and household products
Transparent nylon has penetrated into every aspect of home life. Its transparency, heat resistance and shape-retaining properties make it widely used in faucets, water filters, flow meters and various household containers.
In 2020, EMS proposed the concept of “transparent kitchen” based on its product Grilamid TR HT 170. Grilamid TR HT 170 is an improved Grilamid TR 55 product, specially designed for hot water steam applications, for domestic and medical applications such as baby bottles, cooker lids and steam cooker housings, Grilamid TR HT 170 is also an all-rounder product.
Arkema’s flagship bio-based Rilsan® PA11 and Rilsan® Clear Rnew® transparent polyamide series are resistant to harsh application environments and are suitable for kitchen utensils such as cookware, kitchen utensils, storage items, etc., and are safe for use in dishwashers and Microwave oven, bringing excellent high temperature resistance, detergent resistance, UV resistance, radiation resistance and fatigue resistance.
(2) Optical glasses
As an ideal transparent material, transparent nylon can meet many requirements for high-end spectacle frames and lens materials in today’s market: light weight, not easily broken, resistant to scratches, chemical corrosion, and stress cracking. In addition, for eyewear manufacturers, the ease of processing of the material is also very important. It must be suitable for the injection molding process and easy to drill and grind.
Evonik’s TROGAMID® transparent polyamide product series has accumulated many successful application cases in the optical industry. The product portfolio includes innovative high-performance plastics for lenses and frames, UV-blocking materials, polar films for high-contrast vision and more. Safilo, the world’s leading Italian eyewear designer, manufacturer and marketer, has used Evonik’s TROGAMID® myCX eCO sustainable transparent polyamide for the first time in the production of advanced lenses for sunglasses. TROGAMID® myCX eCO is a high-purity microcrystalline high-performance polyamide optimized for the optical industry and was officially launched in March 2020. Premium lenses and ski goggles made of TROGAMID® myCX eCO are highly durable and safe, and are lightweight and very comfortable to wear. “TROGAMID® myCX eCO has a transparency of over 90%, in addition to excellent mechanical properties, stress crack resistance and fracture strength.
Aymans Grilamid TR grade resin is an amorphous thermoplastic whose composition uniquely combines the outstanding properties of semi-crystalline polyamide 12 and amorphous thermoplastics. Grilamid TR 90 (plastic titanium) is a polymer material with memory. It is currently the most popular ultra-light frame material in the world. It has the characteristics of super toughness, impact resistance and wear resistance, and low friction coefficient, which can effectively prevent the wear and tear of glasses during exercise. , damage to the eyes and face caused by frame breakage and friction. Because of its unique molecular structure, it has good chemical resistance and is not easily deformed in high temperature environments. It can withstand high temperatures of 350 degrees in a short period of time and is not easy to melt and burn. EMS polyamide makes sunglasses and sports eyewear the perfect combination of functionality, unlimited personalization possibilities, color variety and UV protection. With Grilamid TR 90, EMS-GRIVORY has thus become the world leader in the market for transparent polyamides.
Arkema’s Rilsan® Clear brings excellent properties to optical glasses: transparency, light weight, excellent flexibility for comfort and durability, resistance to environmental stress cracking, good chemical resistance, excellent fatigue resistance, and Design brings more freedom.
(3) Medical equipment
As tools that come into direct contact with the human body, medical devices have always attracted much attention for their safety and effectiveness. The selection of materials is one of the key factors in the quality of medical devices. Stress cracking is the ability of a material to resist chemicals when stressed. Medical devices made of materials such as PC, PCTG and PPSU often suffer from cracking problems, especially after contact with chemicals.
Aymans Grilamid TR transparent nylon has good resistance to common chemicals and can well solve the stress cracking problem of medical devices encountered by customers. Grilamid TR HT 200 is a member of the Grilamid TR steam sterilization family with a glass transition temperature of 200°C, steam sterilizable at 134°C, excellent transparency after 500 steam cycles, high chemical resistance and stress cracking resistance , high heat deformation performance, permanent transparency, low moisture absorption, excellent scratch resistance, adhesion to LSR. It complies with the food contact regulations of the EU, US FDA and China C-FDA. It can be used in suction pump tanks, anesthesia masks, forced RES blow valves, sterilizers, and kitchen applications. It is a substitute for polysulfone. Grilamid TR transparent nylon has been widely used in the field of medical devices due to its unique properties.
Arkema’s Rilsan Clear G-170MED has high transparency (91%), low density (1.05g/cm’), is flexible and durable, easy to transport and assemble, and meets the needs of patients for comfort. It is widely used in respiratory masks, in hearing aids and medical tubing.
Evonik’s TROGAMID® Care range includes all grades for medical applications. TROGAMID® Care is based on microcrystalline transparent polyamide and all products in this range are BPA-free. The material has excellent resistance to chemical and stress cracking and is the material of choice for all applications involving pharmaceutical formulations, greases or corrosive disinfectants, including dialyzer components, housings, covers, hearing aids, tees for fluid and drug delivery devices Valves and connectors. In addition, this material also has excellent resilience and can be used in the field of oral invisible orthodontics.
(4) Other applications
Transparent nylon material for electronic equipment is suitable for electronic and electrical fields due to its good insulation, high heat distortion temperature, self-extinguishing flame retardancy, creep resistance, corrosion resistance, high durability, and high transparency, such as: high-voltage switch housings, relays Housings, battery seals, terminal blocks, microelectronic product packaging and other products.
Transparent nylon in the automotive field has good weather resistance, UV resistance, and abrasion resistance, allowing the product to remain smooth for a long time. It can form decorative and protective layers on the surfaces of automotive interiors, dashboards, consoles and other components through injection molding and surface lamination.
In the mechanical field, due to its high transparency, chemical resistance, etc., it can be widely used in the mechanical field to prepare various injection molded parts, such as: fuel and compressed air filters, flow meters, liquid level indicators, valve parts, metering equipment and guide rails, etc. .
06 Manufacturer of transparent nylon
The world’s leading transparent nylon manufacturers include: EMS, LANXESS, UBE Co., Ltd., DuPont, Evonik, and Arkema Company, BASF Corporation, Toboyo Co., Ltd., Philips Corporation, etc. The following is a brief introduction to three of these manufacturers.
EMS
The EMS Group is globally active in two major business areas: high-performance polymers and specialty chemicals. The high-performance polymer business area is handled by EMS-GRIVORY and EMS-EFTEC. EMS-GRIVORY is a top professional manufacturer and supplier of high-performance polyamides, offering polyamide materials for a wide range of applications.
EMS transparent polyamide products mainly include Grilamid TR series and Grilon C series. EMS polyamide makes sunglasses and sports eyewear the perfect combination of functionality, unlimited personalization possibilities, color variety and UV protection. With Grilamid TR 90, EMS-GRIVORY is the global leader in the market for transparent polyamides due to the outstanding chemical and stress crack resistance of EMS polyamides, as well as excellent optical and mechanical properties.
The Grilamid TR series mainly contains semi-crystalline nylon 12 and rigid groups, which have high chemical resistance, stress cracking resistance and excellent transparency. The more representative products of this series include Grilamid TR 30 (PA61/X), Grilamid TR 55 (PA 12/MACM), Grilamid TR 90 (PAMACM12) and Grilamid TRXE 4010 (PA MACM10/1010).
Grilon C series is mainly PA6/12 copolymer, which has weak crystallinity and poor thermal and mechanical properties. Representative products include GrilonCF6S, GrilonCF 7, Grilon CR8, etc.
Evonik
In 1988, Evonik acquired the chemicals division of Dynamit Nobel AG and acquired the manufacturing technology for the transparent amorphous polyamide TROGAMID® T. Dynamit Nobel launched the first polymer on the market as early as 1968, consisting of dimethyl terephthalate and trimethylhexanediamine. In 1991, aliphatic monomers replaced aromatic components to produce a transparent polyamide with better UV resistance. In 1995, systematic screening of cycloaliphatic diamines and 1,12-dodecanedioic acid monomers led to a crystallizable, permanently transparent polyamide named TROGAMID® CX. At present, in addition to the TROGAMID T series and TROGAMID CX series, Evonik’s transparent nylon also has a TROGAMID eCO series containing bio-based sources.
TROGAMID® T5000 is a semi-crystalline polyamide with 90% transparency, making it an ideal material for manufacturers of optical products. TROGAMID® T5000 has higher modulus and stiffness compared to other transparent polyamides. In addition, the material is particularly suitable for manufacturing thin frames and half-rim spectacle frames, which can significantly reduce the weight of the frames without affecting performance, thereby greatly improving wearing comfort.
Arkema
Arkema is the first material producer to offer high-performance bio-based transparent nylon. Among them, Rilsan® Clear G850 Rnew contains 45% bio-based raw materials, and Rilsan® Clear G820 Rnew contains 65% bio-based raw materials. They are an ideal material choice for environmentally friendly and ecological design.
Rilsan® Clear brings excellent performance to optical glasses: transparent, lightweight, excellent flexibility for comfort and durability, resistance to environmental stress cracking, good chemical resistance, excellent fatigue resistance, bringing better design Much freedom.