FAQ General | FAQ Medical | FAQ Zylar 631
Q: What are NAS and ZYLAR?
A: NAS is a water clear SMMA (Styrene Methylmethacrylate copolymer), and ZYLAR is the significantly tougher impact modified version.
Q: How can NAS and ZYLAR reduce total costs for molders?
A:
for lower processing cost rates
Q: How does ZYLAR reduce processing costs compared to clear ABS and Polycarbonate?
A: Energy and labour costs associated with processing can be lower by up to 40%. Competing materials have up to 50% slower cycle times. ZYLAR processes at lower injection pressure and clamp force than Polycarbonate and at lower mold and melt temperatures than either clear ABS or Polycarbonate.
Q: Do NAS and ZYLAR require drying or special equipment to process?
A: NAS and ZYLAR usually require no drying and are easier to process than competing resins such as Polycarbonate, Impact PMMA, PETG and clear ABS.
Q: Does ZYLAR exhibit practical toughness in real-world applications?
A: Yes, ZYLAR performs even better in many applications than some traditional material performance measures predict. For example, although the notched izod or charpy of ZYLAR ranges up to 3.0., the elongation of ZYLAR can be up to 80% resulting in dramatically tougher end product performance than izod or charpy alone would indicate. Learn more in our practical toughness bulletin.
Q: Can NAS be blended with K-Resin and other SBC's (styrene butadiene copolymers)?
A: Yes, NAS blends easily with K-Resin and a variety of SBC's resulting in clear, strong, stiff and cost effective materials.
Q: Have the FDA, ISO and others approved these products?
A: NAS and ZYLAR resins are UL 94HB and FDA compliant, meet USP Class VI specifications and can be sterilized by both gamma radiation and ethylene oxide.
ZYLAR 94-560 has met all of the requirements of ISO 10993: Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices. All NAS and ZYLAR resins comply with the following ISO 10993 tests: cytotoxicity, irritation/ intracutaneous reactivity, acute systemic toxicity, short term implantation and hemocompatibility.
Q: Can NAS and ZYLAR be decorated and colored?
A: Yes, both products decorate and color easily, and can be finished with a variety of techniques including print, hot stamping and metalizing. Both products are also available pre-colored. See examples in the markets section.
Q: Do NAS and ZYLAR meet the VICS garment hanger standards?
A: Yes, garment hangers molded from either ZYLAR or NAS/SBC blends meet all of the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Standards (VICS) for clarity and strength.
Q: Which resins can NAS and ZYLAR replace and in what applications?
A: NAS and ZYLAR have successfully replaced Polycarbonate, PMMA, impact Acrylic, PETG, Propionate, clear ABS, SAN and other copolymers. Some recent product applications include cosmetics packaging, medical devices, toys, games, computer peripherals, point-of-purchase displays, faucet handles, office worktools, water filter pitchers and housewares.
Q: How do NAS and ZYLAR react to Gamma radiation?
A: Both products resist yellowing significantly better than PC and SAN when exposed to Gamma radiation.
Q: Do these products exhibit UV resistance?
A: Both NAS and ZYLAR are available in UV stabilized formulations.
Q: For what processes are NAS and ZYLAR suitable?
A: Both NAS and ZYLAR can be injection molded. See our processing guide for details. NAS can be extruded in K-Resin blends and used as an acrylic copolymer. ZYLAR can be extruded in frosted appearance applications.
Q: Where are these products available?
A: Both NAS and ZYLAR are available from INEOS NOVA or our distribution partners and agents around the world. Please contact us today for more information.