Solvay marks 25th anniversary as supplier of Ixef? PARA resin

Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the global supplier of Ixef? polyarylamide (PARA) resins. Since its development in 1986, Ixef PARA has provided a unique combination of strength and aesthetics, making it ideal for complex parts that require both overall strength and a smooth surface. To commemorate this milestone, Solvay has commissioned a 25th anniversary edition of a commercialized archery bow to demonstrate Ixef PARA’s unique and valuable performance attributes in structural applications.

“Solvay is immensely proud of Ixef PARA’s outstanding track record in terms of quality and stable and secure supply, offering end users a high-performance material with exceptional properties for demanding applications,” said Vincent Meunier, product and business development manager for Ixef PARA.

For metal replacement applications, Ixef compounds typically contain 50%-60% glass fiber, giving them high strength and rigidity. Even with high glass loadings, the smooth resin-rich surface delivers a high-gloss, glass-free finish suitable for painting or metallization. In addition, the high-flow material can readily fill walls as thin as 0.5 mm even with glass loading as high as 60%.Structural parts made from Ixef resin can be simultaneously very thin, extremely rigid, strong, and dimensionally stable. The tensile strength of Ixef compounds is similar to many cast metals and alloys at ambient temperature.

Over the years, Ixef PARA has found significant success in structural parts for transportation, medical, food, chemical processing, semiconductor, mobile electronics, and plumbing applications.

Ixef compounds boast excellent coloring capabilities and select grades are formulated for flame-retardant applications. Solvay manufactures Ixef resin at its Rheinberg, Germany, facility and compounding is done at various plants throughout the world.

The commemorative archery bow, manufactured by Plastiques-Paillard, a France-based injection molder, clearly illustrates the strength, flexibility, and aesthetics of the 50% glass-filled Ixef resin, according to Solvay’s Meunier. The bow stands out as a unique application amid the typical structural parts made of Ixef compounds. It not only requires strength and durability but also an appealing look and finish.
The 1.5 m-long bow, which is sold primarily in Europe, has a mono-block design that allows for the frame to be injection molded in one piece from the high-flow 50% glass-filled material. The strength and power of the archery bow can be enhanced by increasing the fiber content of the resin compound by up to 60%.