Toyobo plans to start selling it in the global market in earnest from 2011. The Bairoamido MJ series features a high melting point and a low water-absorbing property. Therefore, it is suited for use in automotive components, which require a high heat resistance and a dimension stability, as well as electric and electronic components such as LEDs.
Toyobo and Arkema had been co-developing the PA by the end of 2009 and started shipping samples in the beginning of 2010.
In general, PA has a high heat resistance, oil resistance, strength, etc. There have already been biomass feedstock-based PAs available in the market. But the melting point of the Bairoamido MJ is as high as 260 to 315°C, which is the highest level compared with high-melting point PAs made from oil, Toyobo said.
In addition, the water absorption rate of the Bairoamido MJ is 1/3 that of existing PAs, making it possible to use PA for applications that have so far been difficult due to dimensional change caused by water absorption.
The biomass feedstock is made from castor-oil plant, which is inedible. The content percentage of the biomass feedstock and the melting point are respectively 30% and 315°C for the "MJ-300" and 70% and 260°C for the "MJ-200." Arkema sells the MJ-300 and MJ-200 under different names.
The two companies aim at achieving an annual sales of ¥5 billion by 2014.
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