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Torlon Processing and Postprocessing

The document discusses processing and curing of Torlon polyamide-imide resin. It covers topics like resin preparation, mold design, machine settings, processing temperatures, curing cycles and conditions, and how curing improves properties like strength, elongation and impact resistance.

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frox123
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© © All Rights Reserved
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191 views

Torlon Processing and Postprocessing

The document discusses processing and curing of Torlon polyamide-imide resin. It covers topics like resin preparation, mold design, machine settings, processing temperatures, curing cycles and conditions, and how curing improves properties like strength, elongation and impact resistance.

Uploaded by

frox123
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Processing and Curing

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

TORLON Processing
OVERVIEW

Resin preparation
Mold design
Machine settings
Processing temperatures
Regrind
Curing
Machining
Post machining curing

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

General Processing Considerations


Proper processing of TORLON assures:
Full thermal performance up to 260C
Outstanding impact resistance (up to 8%)
Dimensional stability
Outstanding flexural fatigue resistance
Compressive strength
Outstanding tensile properties
Creep resistance

Torlon is a very high


Performance resin. To
obtain all of ist benefits it
must undergo a curing cycle
Solvay Advanced Polymers

Wear resistance

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Precursors of Torlon
O
||

- C - NH - R----- NH - C ||

- C - OH
||

Depending on what
resin we are going to
make, R-- can be
different.

Crude Torlon

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Structure of Torlon PAI


O
N

NH
O

O
n

A melt processable high Tg (285C) polymer


Ether and amide functional groups
Low molecular weight

Strength and stiffness properties


Imide and aromatic groups
Curing (heat treatment)
Imidization
High molecular weight

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Torlon preparation
and Processing

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Pre-Drying of Torlon
Product must be dried to a moisture content
of 200 ppm (0.02%)
Dry 24 hours at 121C
Dry 8 hours at 149C
Dry 4 hours at 177C
Use a dessicant equipped dryer!
Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Injection Molding TORLON


Mold Materials & Design
Processing Temperatures
Machine Settings
Regrind

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Mold Materials
Pre-hardened Steel (~RC30) for
Prototype Tools
Hardened Steel (H-13 or Similar,
~RC50) for Production Tools
Plating (Balzer etc) Not Necessary
- TORLON is Non-Corrosive
Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Tool Steels*
Uddeholm: Stavax ESR,Orvar
Thyssen: W66EFS
Aubert & Duval: SMV3W, SMV5W
Steel choice guided by strength and wear
resistance (not corrosion resistance or grain size)
*This list is not exhaustive
Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Mold Design
Sprues/Runners as Short as Possible
Hot sprue bushing to reduce resin consumption

Balanced Runner Systems


- Equal Velocity in Each Runner

GenerousVents/Overflow Tabs
0.015 0.060mm

No hot runner systems!


Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

TORLON Machine Settings


Injection Speed and Pressure at
Maximum
- Hydraulic Accumulators Greatly
Improve Quality

Back Pressure ~ 3,5 bar (limit shear)


Shot Size 20% - 80% of Machine Capacity
Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Processing temperatures
Mold Temperature 205o C- 218C
Barrel Temperatures
Rear

305C

Middle 327C
Front

343C

Nozzle 370C
1.0:1 Compression Ratio Screw, No Check
Device
Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Screw design
Limit shear of
material
Promote selfcleaning of
injection unit
Free flowing, no
dead spots
Accuracy of bbl to
screw diameter
Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Regrind

Polyamide-imide is reactive
Acid number decreases with Temperature
Molecular weight increases w/ temp
Viscosity increases dramatically after
thermal exposure
Risk of seizing screw & barrel
Regrind STRONGLY discouraged
Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Curing of Torlon
O
||

- C - NH - R----- NH - C ||

- C - OH
||

Crude Torlon

Solvay Advanced Polymers

Depending on parts
thickness and
temperature profile the
imidization goes on to
the final performance
level.

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Torlon Curing Cycles (3)

Thickness < 7.62 mm


( Standard cycle )

7 days ramp,
10 days @ 260C

Thickness 7.62 -12 7mm

13 days ramp,
10 days @ 260C

Thickness >12.7mm

25 days ramp,
10 days @ 260C

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Curing Conditions
Thickness 7.62mm

Thickness 7.62 12.7mm

( Standard cycle )

1 day @ 1490C
1 day @ 1910C
1 day @ 2040C
1 day @ 2180C
1 day @ 2320C
1 day @ 2430C
1 day @ 2520C
10 days @ 2600C
Total: 17 days
Temperatures: +/- 3 C

1 day @ 149C
1 day @ 176C
1 day @ 191C
1 day @ 204C
1 day @ 218C
2 days @ 232C
3 days @ 243C
2 days @ 249C
1 day @ 254C
10 days @ 260C

Total: 23 days
Temperatures: +/ 3C

Solvay Advanced Polymers

Thickness > 12.7mm


1 day @ 149C
1 day @ 177C
1 day @ 191C
2 days @ 204C
2 days @ 215C
2 days @ 226C
3 days @ 232C
3 days @ 238C
5 days @ 243C
3 days @ 249C
2 days @ 254C
10 days @ 260C
Total: 35 days
Temperatures: +/ 3C

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Curing Torlon
Tensile Strength @ RT doubles
200

300

180

Tensile strength in MPa

140

200

120
100

150
Temperature

80

Tensile strength

60
40

100

Oven temperature in C

250

160

50

20
0

0
1

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Days

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Curing Torlon
120

300

100

250

80

200
Tensile strenght
Temperature

60

150

40

100

20

50

0
1

Oven temperature in C

Tensile strength in MPa

Tensile strength @ 177C almost doubles

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Days

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Curing Torlon
Tensile elongation @ RT quadruples
9

300

8
250

200

Elongation
Temperature

150

4
3

100

Oven temperature in C

Elongation in %

2
50
1
0

0
1

Solvay Advanced Polymers

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Days

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Curing TORLON
Tensile elongation @ 177C increases +six times
20

300

18

Elongation in %

14

200

12

Elongation
Temperature

10

150

8
100

6
4

Oven temperature in C

250

16

50

2
0

0
1

Solvay Advanced Polymers

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Days

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Curing TORLON
Impact ( Izod ) @ RT almost triples
7

300

Impact in KJ / mm

5
200
4

Impact
Temperature

150

3
100
2

Oven temperature in C

250

50

0
1

Solvay Advanced Polymers

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Days

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Machining Torlon
Use standard machine tools
Use cutting oils for cooling and ease of
cutting
Remove small layers (several passes, not one
single thickness)

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Post Machining Re-cure


Machining may remove some of the
cured/oxidized outer layer
Oxidized layer provides some additional
tribologial properties
Re-cure recommended to improve friction
and wear resistance

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

Post-machining Re-curing
conditions
Day 1: to 150C (ramp up over 6 hours)
Day 2: from 150 to 175C (over 2 hours) then remaining time (22
hrs) at 175C
Day 3: from 175 to 200 (over 2 hours) then remaining 22 hours at
200C
Day 4: from 200 to 225 (over 2 hours) then remaining 22 hours at
225C
Day 5: from 225 to 260C (over two hours) balance of day at 260C
Day 6: 260C
Day 7: 260C Ramp down at ambient heat loss rate to room temp at
end of D7.

Solvay Advanced Polymers

TORLON Polyamide-Imide

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