Nexam Chemical Introduces New Product Neximid PETA

Nexam Chemical introduces the unique product Neximid PETA, which enables heat activated ethynyl crosslinking of Polyimides at lower temperatures than previously possible.

• Neximid PETA is based on a unique and novel technology, enabling ethynyl crosslinking of Polyimide films, adhesives and coatings at temperatures as low as 70 °C. Application areas include Electronics, Electrical and Aerospace.
• Neximid PETA is a purely heat activated crosslinker which can be catalyzed, thus enabling the crosslinking temperature to be lowered and set at the desired level.
• Polyimide films crosslinked with Neximid PETA will get increased heat resistance, dimensional stability, as well as a lowered CTE value.
• Neximid PETA is the third product in the Neximid range of crosslinkers to Polyimides; the other two being Neximid PEPA (for higher crosslinking temperatures) and Neximid EPA (for medium crosslinking temperatures).

As explained by Jan-Erik Rosenberg, Technical Director at Nexam Chemical: "We are very satisfied to be the first in the world to introduce this product, which addresses an urgent request expressed by customers in the Polyimide segment. This request can be summarized as being able to crosslink Polyimides at much lower curing temperatures, but retaining the same crosslinking mechanisms and stable end structures as is achieved with PEPA."

Background and development
Nexam has received many requests from customers for a new product for crosslinking Polyimides at lower temperatures whilst, still having the good stability of Neximid PEPA.

• Use the same crosslinking mechanisms as with Neximid PEPA in for instance PETI resins, PMR replacement resins and Ultra High Temperature Polyimide Resins.
• The crosslinker should enable dramatically lowered curing temperatures and with the possibility to set the curing temperature at a desired level.
• The crosslinker should have the same stability as Neximid PEPA

This resulted in the development of the Neximid PETA molecule:

The Neximid PETA crosslinker has a time-dependant heat activated curing temperature interval of 240-290 °C depending on the mobility of the backbone it is co-reacted with. When Neximid PETA is catalysed the crosslinking temperature can be decreased down to 70 °C depending on the catalytic system used. Nexam also provides these catalysts (NexKat 330, 331 and 332) and co-catalysts (NexKat 310, 311, 312 and 314). Nexam is also developing new catalytic systems. Application areas for Neximid PETA include: Electronics, Electrical, Adhesives, Aerospace and Coatings.

Comparing Neximid PETA to Neximid PEPA and Neximid EPA
The other products from Nexam Chemical are Neximid PEPA and Neximid EPA.

The crosslinking temperature intervals differ between the three different Neximid products, as can be seen below in Figure 4.

SOURCE: Nexam