PA6 & PA66

Manufacturers looking to improve flow and boost cycle time with excellent surface appearance are increasingly looking to Akulon Ultraflow. This easy-to-process polyamide 6 offers up to 80% improved flow and a 40% reduction in injection molding cycle times with no significant effect on mechanical properties compared to standard polyamide 6 grades.

Today, Akulon Ultraflow is being used in many demanding applications, like engine covers, intake manifolds, automotive exterior mirror shells, furniture and power tools. The bright science behind the faster flow of Akulon Ultraflow equates to lower system costs – and not just via faster cycle times.

For example, through enabling thinner wall thicknesses, less material is needed and engineers have more design freedom. An increased number of tooling cavities means lower production costs while molding parts on lower tonnage machines enables more manufacturing flexibility. And of course higher flow equals lower molded in stresses and warpage reduction.

Further benefits

Other benefits of Akulon Ultraflow include improved surface appearance and less need for painting, along with increased scope for metal replacement – which in turn brings the benefits of weight, fuel and carbon reduction. Good for people, planet and profit.

Spiral flow length

The graph on the left shows the spiral flow length of Akulon Ultrafow at 260°C (500°F) and 1400 bar. Akulon Ultraflow can reduce cycle time up to 40% thanks to shorter injection and molding times, faster crystallization rates and lower processing temperatures. Lower processing temperatures equate to lower energy costs.

The improved flow of Akulon Ultraflow can reduce clamping forces, bringing lower tonnage machines into play and adding more cavities per mold. Thus, the potential for reduced piece part price.

Cost savings

When looking at the Akulon product cost analysis pictured on the right, you can see the cost savings that Akulon Ultraflow unlocks through increased cycle time. In fact, it achieves a cycle time reduction of 53 to 33 seconds.

Designing parts, like engine covers, with long flow lengths and thinner wall thicknesses allows for additional cost reduction opportunities.