Contributes to product weight reduction and high precision
Modified PPE Resin

Overview and Features
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What is XYRON™?

XYRON™ is Asahi Kasei's family of modified PPE (modified polyphenylene ether or mPPE) resin products. 

Modified PPE resins are polymer alloys formed by compounding PPE resins with other types of resin. PPE resins are engineering plastics featuring excellent heat resistance, flame retardance, electrical properties, and dimensional stability, with low water absorption and low specific gravity. PPE resins are amorphous thermoplastic resins. 

Asahi Kasei uses 2,6-xylenol as a raw material to produce PPE, and then to form alloys and compounds with other resins to yield an extensive lineup of material grades. For each type of alloy, we offer various grades to meet a diverse range of customer needs, making us Asia's No. 1 manufacturer* of modified PPE resins. 

*Source: Sales volume from Fuji Keizai's 2023 Engineering Plastics Market Outlook and Global Strategy.

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Key features of XYRON ™

XYRON ™ is Asahi Kasei's family of modified PPE resins. These products are classified as engineering plastics featuring outstanding heat resistance and mechanical strength. 

Classification of plastics and positioning of modified PPE resin XYRON™

PPE resins are amorphous thermoplastic, and XYRON™ modified PPE resins are engineering plastics boasting the following key properties.

Heat resistance

XYRON™ modified PPE resins offer excellent heat resistance, with high glass-transition temperatures in the range 90–220°C. 

heat resistance of modified PPE resin XYRON™
Glass transition temperature of modified PPE resin XYRON™

Flame retardant

XYRON™ resins have a high oxygen index (a measure of the volume of oxygen required for burning), making them highly flame retardant. 

Oxygen index comparison of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)
Oxygen index comparison of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)

Electrical insulation

XYRON™ modified PPE resins have high volume resistivity (a measure of resistance to the flow of electric current), making them highly electrically insulating. 

Volume resistivity comparison of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)
Volume resistivity comparison of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)

Dimensional stability 

XYRON™ modified PPE resins have low mold shrinkage, ensuring excellent dimensional stability and dimensional precision. 

Linear expansion coefficient comparison of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)
Linear expansion coefficient comparison of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)

Low water absorption, hydrolysis resistance, acid and alkaline resistance

XYRON™ modified PPE resins boast low water absorption, ensuring minimal variation in product dimensions and physical properties due to water absorption. These materials also offer excellent hydrolysis resistance, and ability to withstand acid and alkaline exposure, making them highly durable in harsh environments. 

Water absorption comparison of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)
Water absorption comparison of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)

It also has excellent heat resistance, so it has excellent hot water resistance and hydrolysis resistance. The table below shows that the physical properties of XYRON™ decrease little in terms of Charpy impact strength after being left standing for 3,500 hours in a high temperature and high humidity environment.

In addition, it is highly resistant to acids and alkalis, and has excellent environmental durability.

Hot water resistance and hydrolysis resistance of modified PPE resin XYRON™ (unreinforced)
Comparison of Charpy impact strength of modified PPE resins XYRON™ (unreinforced) and PC (unreinforced) after standing for 3,500 hours in a high temperature and high humidity environment

Low specific gravity

XYRON™ modified PPE resins are lightweight materials boasting the lowest specific gravities of all engineering plastics.
Choosing XYRON™ resins helps to reduce component weights. 

Comparison of specific gravity of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)
Comparison of specific gravity of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)

Low dielectric constant (Dk) and low dissipation factor (Df)

PPE, the main raw material of XYRON ™ modified PPE resins, features low dielectric constant (Dk) and low dissipation factor (Df), ensuring minimal transmission losses and making these materials ideal for use in information and communication technologies. The high glass-transition temperature of PPE also ensures that the temperature dependence of the dielectric permittivity is lower for XYRON ™products than for other heat-resistant resins. 

Comparison of dielectric properties of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)
Comparison of dielectric properties of each engineering plastic (non-reinforced)

XYRON ™ modified PPE resins combine the low dielectric permittivity of PPE with the advantages of Asahi Kasei's compound technology to support a wide range of dielectric permittivity needs. In particular, we offer dielectric constant (Dk) / dissipation factor (Df) controlled grades providing a wide range of dielectric permittivity, including grades combining high dielectric constant (Dk) and low dissipation factor (Df). 

Wide range of dielectric properties of modified PPE resin XYRON™
Wide range of dielectric properties of modified PPE resin XYRON™

Regrindability

The excellent heat resistance and hydrolysis resistance of XYRON™ modified PPE resins ensure that these products exhibit minimal variation in physical properties upon recycling and regrinding, making these materials easy to reuse. 

Also, the light weight of XYRON ™resins—which boast the lowest specific gravities of all engineering plastics—reduces the volume of material needed for product manufacturing. Together with the ease of recycling, this ensures that the choice of XYRON ™ resins reduces material-use volumes at every stage of the product cycle, helping to reduce environmental impact.  

Regrindability of modified PPE resin XYRON™ (unreinforced)
Regrind characteristics of modified PPE resin XYRON™ (unreinforced) and PC material (unreinforced) Charpy impact strength retention comparison

Reasons for choosing XYRON™

01

Asia's Number-One Supplier of m-PPE resins*

XYRON™ modified PPE resins are compounds combining PPE with other types of resin. 

Asahi Kasei uses 2,6-xylenol as a raw material to produce PPE, and then forms polymer alloys by compounding with various other resins—including polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and polyphthalamide (PPA)—to yield an extensive lineup of material grades. For each type of alloy, we offer various grades to meet a diverse range of customer needs, making us Asia's No. 1 manufacturer* of modified PPE resins. 

*Source: Sales volume from Fuji Keizai's 2023 Engineering Plastics Market Outlook and Global Strategy.

Modified PPE resin XYRON™ lineup
A wide range of modified PPE resin XYRON™

In addition, modified PPE resin XYRON™ also includes "PPE raw material (PPE powder)" in which the main material PPE is not compounded with other resins.
PPE raw material is an amorphous polymer with high heat resistance, low specific gravity, excellent electrical properties and flame resistance, and excellent compatibility with polystyrene.

XYRON™ PPE raw material handling grade
XYRON™ PPE raw material handling grade
02

Technical support

With offices in many countries around the world, Asahi Kasei supports our customers on a global basis.
Moreover, our “resin CAE technology” service—Asahi Kasei's in-house design-simulation expertise—is available to support customers in the product design and development stages. 

→ Click here for details on Asahi Kasei's technical support 

technicalsupport

Applications

Junction box for Photovoltaics
Next-generation network
PPE, the main raw material of XYRON™ resins, features low dielectric constant (Dk) and low dissipation factor (Df), ensuring minimal transmission losses even at high frequencies. The excellent dielectric behavior of PPE, together with Asahi Kasei's compound technology, allows XYRON™ resins to meet a wide range of permittivity needs, from smartphone cases to base-station antenna covers. 
Environmental energy 
XYRON™ resins boast high heat resistance and flame retardance, low water absorption, good dimensional stability, excellent electrical insulation, good mechanical properties even in hot, humid environments, and minimal dimensional variation. These properties have led to the adoption of XYRON ™ materials for technologies such as photovoltaics or solar-power junction boxes.  The low ion elution of XYRON™ resins has led to their adoption for components of stationary fuel cells. 
Home appliances / Office equipment / Electrical and electronic components 
The dimensional stability, flame retardance, and heat resistance of XYRON ™ resins makes them well-suited for use as materials for cases or internal chassis bodies—such as inverter covers or printer assembly components—requiring high-precision components with extensive design freedom. The low specific gravity of XYRON ™ products helps to shrink component footprints and reduce component weight. 
Automotive 
XYRON ™ products have  successful adoptions for a variety of automotive components, including relay blocks, NiMH battery components, vehicle-mounted cameras, and inter-cell spacers and bus bar covers for electric vehicles. More recently, we have expanded our range of recommended uses for XYRON ™ resins in fuel-cell vehicles.  

Grade Proposal

Asahi Kasei offers a wide range of lineup of XYRON ™ PPE/PS grades featuring various levels of flame retardance and heat resistance, as detailed in the table below. Different choices of filler materials, optimized as requested, also yield grades boasting various mechanical properties (including rigidity, toughness,  low warpage, and dimensional stability), conductive grades, the V-series of grades boasting excellent vibration resistance and acoustic noise reduction, and the W-series of grades specialized for water-supply applications. 

XYRON™ alloy grades—alloys combining PPE with a wide range of crystalline resins, from general-purpose materials to super engineering plastics—combine the advantages of PPE with the features of different crystalline resins, from heat resistance to chemical resistance. Our lineup includes: PP/PPE products boasting excellent chemical resistance and low warpage; PA/PPE products boasting heat resistance, low water absorption, and oil resistance; PPS/PPE products boasting high heat resistance, minimal burring, and low warpage; and PPA/PPE products boasting high heat resistance and low water absorption. 

Click the entries in the table below for detailed information on each material grade—or click the buttons to see the features of each product series. 

Asahi Kasei also offers bare PPE resins (powders) before blending with other resins to yield compound materials. Please contact us to learn more about this option.  

Asahi Kasei is also working to achieve carbon neutrality for XYRON™ products by developing renewable attributed PPE and recycled grades containing 15-40% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. 

grade-list

Product Data/Tips for Use *Handling Precautions

Precautions when handling XYRON™ (modified polyphenylene ether resin)

<Caution>
The content of this document is based on currently available materials, information and data, and may be revised based on new findings. In addition, since the precautions are intended for normal handling, in the case of special handling, please use after implementing safety measures suitable for the application and usage.

1. Handling Precautions

The following are important points for handling XYRON™. Please use it for safe handling of XYRON™. A separate safety data sheet has been created for handling precautions for each grade of XYRON™. Please read the safety data sheet before use. Please investigate the safety of the additives your company uses other than XYRON™.

A. Notes on work
When working with XYRON™, be careful to avoid contact with or inhalation of pellets, molten resin, and gases generated during melting. In the unlikely event of contact or inhalation, first aid measures are listed below.

  • ・If it gets into your eyes
    If it gets in your eyes, rubbing it may cause irritation or damage the cornea, so wash thoroughly with clean water for at least 15 minutes without rubbing, and if there are any abnormalities, seek medical attention.
  • ・If it adheres to the skin
    In general, wash with water or soap, and if molten material adheres, immediately cool with clean water. Do not forcibly peel off the hardened resin on the skin, and seek medical attention.
  • ・If inhaled
    Normally, there is no direct effect on the human body, but if you inhale dust, etc., gargle well with clean water. If breathing fumes from the melt makes you sick, move to fresh air and wait for recovery. If it does not recover, get medical attention.
  • ・If swallowed
    Spit it out as much as possible, and if there are any abnormalities, seek medical attention.

B. Safety and health precautions
Please be careful to avoid contact with eyes or skin or inhalation of the gas generated when XYRON™ dries or melts. Also, avoid touching the hot resin directly. During drying and melting operations, it is necessary to install a local exhaust system and wear protective equipment (safety glasses, protective gloves, etc.).

  • ・Equipment measures
    In the molding work, there is a risk that gas may be generated by heating and melting, so please install an effective local exhaust system etc.
  • ・Respiratory protective equipment
    Wear a mask for organic gas when working in a place where there is a possibility of inhaling generated gas or fume. Wear a dust mask when working with resin products, sanding, or other work that generates dust.
  • ・Protective glasses
    When working, wear resin safety glasses with side seals, resin goggles, etc.
  • ・Protective gloves
    Wear as needed. In particular, when handling molten resin, use gloves with good heat insulation to prevent burns.
  • ・Protective clothing
    Regular work clothes are fine, but especially when handling molten resin, wear long-sleeved clothing to prevent burns.
  • C. Precautions regarding combustion
    XYRON™ is flammable and should be handled, transported, and stored away from heat and ignition sources. In the event of a fire, strong heat, black smoke, carbon dioxide gas, carbon monoxide gas, and other toxic gases may be generated. To extinguish the fire, you can use the same extinguishing agents as for general fires, such as water, fire extinguishing foam, and powder extinguishing agent. Wear fire retardant clothing and breathing equipment when extinguishing a fire.

    D. Precautions for transportation
    Avoid getting wet and rough handling to prevent the packing bag from tearing. In the unlikely event that the bag is broken and the pellets are scattered, take special care not to slip and fall, and quickly sweep up and collect or dispose of them. Take measures to prevent static electricity disasters during pneumatic transportation.

    E. Precautions for storage
    Please store XYRON™ away from direct sunlight and places with high temperature and humidity. Store it away from heat and ignition sources, and take measures to prevent static electricity hazards.

    F. Disposal precautions
    XYRON™ can be disposed of by landfill or incineration. When disposing of waste in a landfill, please entrust the disposal to a certified industrial waste disposal company or a local government if that organization is doing so, in accordance with the "Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Act." When incinerating, please use incineration equipment and process in accordance with various laws and regulations such as the Air Pollution Control Act.

    2.Regarding conforming standards

    There are grades XYRON™ that comply with the self-regulatory standards for food containers and packaging made of polyolefin and other synthetic resins, Ministry of Health and Welfare Notification No. 370, UL, CSA, and Electricity Control Law. Please contact our office for details.

    3.Others

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

    The data in the catalog are representative values obtained based on prescribed test methods, and are not guaranteed values. Please refer to it as a guideline for selecting the most suitable grade for each application. These figures are subject to change for improvement of physical properties.

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

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