Excellent heat resistance, strength and stiffness
Polyamide Resin

Leona Leona

What is LEONA™ SU series, semi-aromtic PA ?

LEONA™ S series is an alloy grade of semi-aromatic polyamide (PA) with polyamide 66 (PA66) or polyamide 6 (PA6).
By creating an alloy with a semi-aromatic polyamide, we have successfully overcome the problems of the dimensions changing and the material properties degrading after absorption of water, which are issues with PA66 and PA6. At the same time, the LEONA™ S series also offers a specific strength comparable to die-cast 

The product lineup offers the following three grades (series).

Good appearance/high strength: SG
Good appearance/high strength/flame retardant: SN (non-halogen/non-red-phosphorus flame retardant), SH (halogen flame retardant)
Good appearance/weather resistant: SU

This page introduces the LEONA™ SU series. It is a new innovative PA6+PA6I alloy-based material developed by Asahi Kasei. It is able to achieve outstanding post molded appearance and meeting stringent UV test requirements. With it good retention of physical properties after water absorbed condition, LEONA™ SU Series can meet structural applications that conventional PA6 may struggle to meet.

 

レオナ™ SUシリーズの想定用途

LEONA™ SU series characteristics

Excellent weatherability resistance


One important criterion for exterior applications is having excellent weathering resistance properties. Under various weathering tests like SAE J2527, ISO 4892-2, and JIS K7350-4, the LEONA™ SU series is able to achieve good results and it meets the automotive criteria. The below graph shows weathering test of the LEONA™ SU series according to SAE J2527.

In addition, LEONA™ SU series performance was validated at part application level. The color change and gloss retention met the OEM requirements with also no crack or chalking found in the part.

Excellent Outdoor Protection
Excellent Outdoor Protection

With numerous positive tests and validation of the LEONA™ SU series, this makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of exterior applications.
Asahi Kasei Plastics Singapore (APS) is an ISO 17K accredited laboratory and is certified for weathering test equipment and evaluation procedures according to ISO 4892. Such weathering tests require time-consuming evaluation and high reliability, and by acquiring and providing data at the APS laboratory, we are able to deliver highly reliable data to our customers in a timely manner.

 https://www.asahi-kasei.com.sg/APS/technical-support-center/laboratory-accreditation/

Aesthetic surface appearance

Incorporating both excellent weathering performance and post-molded surface, the LEONA™ SU series can allow OEMs to enjoy cost and secondary process reduction.
For applications in black, painting options can be omitted using the LEONA™ SU series. The part can immediately be adopted after injection molding without going through a secondary painting process. Omitting the painting process also allows cost reduction which is an important factor in all industries. 
LEONA™ SU series surface appearance is able to achieve a high level of gloss even at GF 60% content. This combination of high stiffness and excellent surface allows the LEONA™ SU series to be adopted for structurally demanding exterior parts.

PA66 general grades, which contain a large amount of GF for strength and rigidity, have the disadvantage that GF floats on the surface, giving the surface a crumbly appearance and making it difficult to use in products that are visible to the human eye. The LEONA™ SU series, however, does not show GF floating and produces a glossy molded product.
Also, since good-looking parts can be obtained even at low injection molding speeds, a wide range of production conditions can be handled.

Excellent Aesthetical Finish
Excellent Aesthetical Finish
LEONA™ SU series molded sample
LEONA™ SU series molded sample

Well balanced mechanical properties, even under wet condition

LEONA™ SU series was developed with the aim of replacing metals, and is a material that has high strength and stiffness and reduces changes in physical properties after absorbing water.
When PA absorbs water, toughness increases and its strength and stiffness decrease. LEONA™ SU series has succeeded in suppressing the decrease in strength after absorbing water. For example, in LEONA™ SU206 (glass-fiber (GF) 60% reinforced PA6 + semi-aromatic PA), the decrease in flexural modulus after absorbing water is about 20%, which is higher than the physical properties of general PA66 + GF60% material after absorbing water. In general, when comparing PA6 and PA66, the change in physical properties after absorbing water is greater in PA6, which shows that the semi-aromatic PA has a large effect of suppressing the change in physical properties in SU206 based on PA6.
Improved strength performance enables a wider range of product designs.

Enhanced Mechanical Performances
Enhanced Mechanical Performances

Good flowability, easy processing

LEONA™ SU series can be processed and molded easily using a standard injection molding machine. Its excellent flow allows flexible designs and processability.  LEONA™ SU206 for example, has a flow performance better than conventional PA66 GF 50%. This is despite having higher GF content of 60%.
The potential to enable the molding of large, thin-walled, and complex-shaped products may contribute to metal replacement and product miniaturization and weight reduction.

レオナ™ SUシリーズ スパイラルフローの流動長比較
Good Flowability = Easy Processing

In a successful development application, exsiting material used required annealing after molding to prevent failure during assembly. LEONA™ SU206 however, showed that it does not require any annealing treatment. The ease of molding and good crystallisation allows adequate strength and performance without the need for annealing.

レオナ™ SUシリーズ 二次加工工程(アニール処理)の削減事例
Secondary Process removal – Actual Part

LEONA™ SU series line-up

LEONA™ SU20C
(development grade)
  • High mechanical strength and modulus
  • PA6+6I alloy
  • GF35%
  • High mechanical strength in wet condition
  • Higher dimensional stability in wet condition
  • Good flowability
  • Excellent surface appearance
  • Recommended application: automotive inner/external mechanical parts for metal replacement, household, appliances etc.
LEONA™ SU206
(development grade)
  • High mechanical strength and modulus
  • PA6+6I alloy
  • GF60%
  • High mechanical strength in wet condition
  • Higher dimensional stability in wet condition
  • Good flowability
  • Excellent surface appearance
  • Recommended application: automotive inner/external parts for metal replacement

Application Cases

Outer mirror base

×

Parts for fixing mirrors used by drivers to check the side and rear of the vehicle. 
The part must be strong and rigid enough not to break even if a person hangs from it, and must have a beautiful appearance and weather resistance even without coloring.

https://www.asahi-kasei-plastics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/mirrorbase.jpg

Products

Features

  • Excellent surface appearance
  • Weather resistance
  • High stiffness
  • Excellent moldability

Rear view mirror bracket

×

A component used to fix a mirror for checking rearward vision. 
In recent years, housings for forward detection ADAS components are also integrated. High appearance without coloring and rigidity to prevent blurring are required.

https://www.asahi-kasei-plastics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/roommirror.jpg

Products

Features

  • High stiffness
  • Excellent surface appearance
  • Excellent moldability

Related Contents

Product Data/Tips for Use *Handling Precautions

LEONA™ handling precautions

The content of this document is based on materials, information, and data available at this time, and may be revised based on new findings. Please note that these are provided as information and are not guaranteed. Therefore, when using our products, please take full consideration of the usage environment, design, etc., and use them at your own risk after judging that there is no problem with the product.

1. Handling Precautions

The following are important points to note when handling LEONA™ that we supply to you. Please use them to ensure safe handling of LEONA™.
Please note that we have prepared a separate Material Safety Data Sheet for handling precautions for LEONA™. Please contact our staff and we will send it to you. Please investigate the safety of any additives other than LEONA™ that you use yourself.

(1) Safety and health precautions
Be careful to avoid eye or skin contact or inhalation of gases generated during drying or melting of LEONA™. Also, avoid direct contact with hot resin. We recommend installing local exhaust ventilation and wearing protective equipment (safety glasses, gloves, etc.) during each operation such as drying and melting.

(2) Precautions regarding combustion
LEONA™ is flammable, so handle and store it away from heat and sources of ignition. If it catches fire, it may emit toxic or suffocating gases. To extinguish a fire, use water, foam or dry chemical extinguishers.

(3) Disposal precautions
LEONA™ can be disposed of by incineration or landfill, but disposal should be entrusted to a certified industrial waste disposal company or local government in accordance with the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law. If you incinerate Leona™ yourself, use incineration equipment that complies with the Air Pollution Control Law and other laws and regulations. Incineration may generate toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and suffocating gases.

(4) Notes on storage
Absolutely avoid resin contamination and moisture absorption. Store in a cool, dry place and start molding immediately after opening. Do not pierce the product bag or let it get wet. Also, do not return spilled resin to the product bag. It is a combustible material (synthetic resins) designated by the Fire Service Act, and should be handled in accordance with municipal ordinances. (Fire extinguishing facility, indoor storage facility, etc.)

(5) Precautions for molding
The appropriate resin temperature for molding LEONA™ is 270-310°C. If the temperature is lower than this, there is a risk of localized deterioration of physical properties due to uneven plasticization. On the other hand, if the temperature is higher than this, there is a risk of gas generation due to decomposition and poor appearance such as silver. However, there are some exceptions such as FR200 and FR370, so be sure to refer to the individual catalogs before molding. Also, do not allow LEONA™ to remain in a molten state in the molding machine cylinder for a long period of time. This will cause the resin to decompose and the molded product to discolor or deteriorate. In that case, replace the inside of the cylinder with polyethylene or similar before molding.

2. Usage

  • -LEONA™ should not be used for implantation into the body or for applications involving direct contact with body fluids or infusions.
  • ・When using for other medical purposes, please be sure to contact us in advance.
  • ・Do not use for applications that come into contact with food, such as food packaging containers.
  • ・Please contact us for details.
  • ・If you are considering using our products for other special purposes, please contact us and we will discuss them individually.
  • ・Please contact our person in charge for details on the compatibility of each grade with the Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law, UL standards, CSA standards, etc.

3.Others

Please be aware of industrial property rights when using this product.

Please contact us to ask any questions, discuss any concerns, and request samples.

Enter a description of the PPE
sustainability
Asahi Asahi Kasei engineering plastics' contribution to achieving carbon neutrality
The Asahi Kasei Group is committed to contributing to the realization of a carbon neutrality, sustainable society.
We will introduce our efforts to achieve a circular economy in the engineering plastics business.
Learn more