GE Plastics, Pittsfield, Mass., has announced an exceptionally low-molecular-weight (LMW) version of one of its core polymers — polyphenylene oxide, or PPO® resin — specifically created to serve as an additive that brings new functionality to elastomer-based adhesives, sealants and molding compounds as well as to thermoset products such as epoxy-based composites and electronics components.
The new version of PPO resin developed by GE Plastics, called PPO SA120 resin, has a molecular weight of less than 2,500, which is nearly 90-percent lower than a typical PPO resin. Typical high-molecular-weight PPO resin, also known generically as polyphenylene ether (PPE), has been traditionally used in engineering thermoplastic blends from GE in products such as NORYL® resin and NORYL GTX® resin.
Until now, high-molecular-weight PPO resin and its high viscosity or high melt processing temperatures have limited use as an additive in some elastomeric and thermoset applications. PPO SA120 resin, on the other hand, provides excellent processability and compatibility with a host of materials outside of traditional thermoplastics markets.