Rhodia Polyamide has developed TECHNYL® XCell Polyamide 6.6 and 6 grades optimised for use with Trexel’s MuCell® Process

Lyon, France – June 6, 2007 – At Kunststoff 2007, Rhodia Polyamide will present its TECHNYL® XCell 6,6 and 6 polyamide grades optimised for use with Trexel’s MuCell® process. These new grades are the first technology deliverables from Rhodia as part of its recently signed global co-marketing and development agreement with Trexel Inc. As partners to the agreement, Rhodia actively develops and commercialises new material technology optimised for the MuCell® process, and Trexel works exclusively with Rhodia for polyamide applications.

The new TECHNYL® XCell 6,6 and 6 polyamide grades are now available in production quantities. At K 2007, Düsseldorf, Germany October 24-31, they will feature in Rhodia’s presentation at Booth E24 in Hall 6.

The Rhodia/Trexel strategy is to work together to bring new value to applications in a variety of important polyamide markets. In automotive, for example, this novel material/process combination brings new levels of value and performance to under-the-hood applications such as rocker covers and air intake manifolds. It also opens the way for the development of a new generation of polyamide thermoplastic front-end modules.

Rhodia has specifically adapted the TECHNYL® XCell polyamide 6 and 6.6 grades for the MuCell® process. These offer enhanced processability and good property retention when used in the MuCell® process, while maintaining excellent surface appearance.

The response from trials has shown that Technyl® XCell permits a density saving of at least 10% while retaining outstanding rigidity, heat deflection temperature and notched impact performance. Additional advantages offered by these new materials when used with the MuCell® process include weight reduction, less warpage, faster injection moulding, lower injection pressure and lower moulded-in stress.

About the MuCell® Process

The MuCell® microcellular foam injection molding technology is a complete process and equipment technology which facilitates extremely high quality and greatly reduces production costs. The MuCell® Process involves the controlled use of gas in its supercritical state to create a foamed part. For injection molding applications, the MuCell® Technology is targeted at precision and engineered plastic components.

The quality advantages of the MuCell® Process are complemented by certain direct economic advantages, including the ability to produce 20-30% more parts per hour on a given molding machine, and the ability to mold parts on lower tonnage machines as a result of the viscosity reduction and the elimination of the packing requirement that accompanies the use of supercritical gas.

Trexel Inc., located in Woburn, Massachusetts is an investor and employee-owned company specializing in the development and commercialization of microcellular foamed processes for the plastics industry. Trexel has Sales and Support Offices in key regions of the world, and also has many alliances with equipment companies, contract manufacturers, materials suppliers, and premier moulding organizations, all dedicated to the optimal use of the MuCell Process to improve quality and reduce manufacturing costs.

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