RadiciGroup is a major producer of polyamides such as Nylon 6 and Nylon 66. The document discusses trends in the global polyamide market showing strong growth forecast for polyamide plastics compared to fibers. It also outlines several market challenges for polyamides including requirements for lower emissions, lighter weight materials, and improved sustainability. RadiciGroup is developing new high performance and sustainable polyamide grades to meet these market challenges including those with better heat resistance, higher filler levels, and grades made from bio-based feedstocks.

1. POLYAMIDES:
Balancing the Offer to Meet Market
Challenges
Erico Spini
Marketing and Application Development Director –
RadiciGroup Plastics
6th European Nylon Symposium
Frankfurt, 27-28 February 2012 1

2. Topics
RadiciGroup’s Profile
Polyamide Market Trends
Market Challenges
Sustainability & Performance
Summary and Conclusions
2

3. RADICIGROUP: Our Numbers in 2011
Consolidated Sales
(Millions of Euro)
For Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic Fibres
3
Millions of € 1.238 Personnel 3.500

4. RADICIGROUP Worldwide
4

5. RadiciGroup Nylon 66 Chain
5

6. RadiciGroup Nylon 6 Chain
6

7. Topics
RadiciGroup’s Profile
Polyamide Market Trends
Market challenges
Sustainability & Performance
Summary and Conclusions
7

8. World Polyamide Market Trends
2000-2020
• Nylon engineering plastics ( including film) by 2020 expected to grow
1.4% in fibres and 4.7% in plastics.
• Share of plastics to increase to over 50%
• PA Fibres forecast to grow in technical end-uses and apparel nylon
core applications, driven by demand in emerging countries.
Annual Average Growth
2000/10 2010/20
PA FIBRES -1.0% 1.4%
PA PLASTICS 4.1% 4.7%
PA6&66 TOTAL 0.9% 3.0%
100% 5,992 6,086 5,641 6,548 7,779 8,815 100%
90% 90%
1,930
80% 2,663 2,376 2,896 80%
3,735 4,602
70% 70%
60% 60%
(Thousands of
50% 50% Metric Tonnes)
40% 40%
4,062
30% 3,423 3,265 3,652 30%
4,044 4,213
20% 20%
10% 10%
0% 0%
2000 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020
PA FIBRES PA PLASTICS PA DEMAND 8
Source: PCI Nylon

9. World PA6&66 Market Trends
Strong growth forecast in both PA6 and PA66 plastics:
• the share of plastics in PA66 is expected to be over 50% already
before 2015 and to reach 56% in 2020.
• In PA6 the share of plastics (incl. Film) is expected to be 46% in 2015
and 50% in 2020.
Annual Average Growth Annual Average Growth
2000/10 2010/20 2000/10 2010/20
PA66 FIBRES -3.2% 1.9% PA6 FIBRES 0.1% 1.2%
PA66 PLASTICS 3.1% 4.7% PA6 PLASTICS 4.8% 4.8%
PA66 TOTAL -0.7% 3.3% PA6 TOTAL 1.8% 2.9%
PA6 PLASTICS PA6 FIBRES PA66 PLASTICS PA66 FIBRES
2020 2,896 2,861 1,706 1,352
2015 2,354 2,770 1,381 1,274
(Thousands of
2010 1,818 2,527 1,079 1,125 Metric Tonnes)
2009 1,504 2,317 872 948
2000 1,138 2,498 792 1,564
Source: PCI 9
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: PCI Nylon

10. Polyamide Market Overview
Europe, Turkey, Middle East & Africa
Moderate growth forecast in EP(incl. film).
The share of nylon EP was 60% in 2010 and is forecast to reach 70% in 2020
Annual Average Growth
2000/10 2010/20
PA FIBRES -3.9% -1.5%
PA PLASTICS 2.5% 3.4%
PA6&66 TOTAL -0.6% 1.7%
100% 1,746 1,640 1,354 1,640 1,778 1,937 100%
90% 90%
80% 771 80%
70% 935 790 986 70%
1,186 1,373
60% 60%
50% 50%
40% 40% (Thousands of
30% 975 30% Metric Tonnes)
20% 705 564 654 20%
592 564
10% 10%
0% 0%
2000 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020
PA FIBRES PA PLASTICS PA DEMAND
10
Source: PCI Nylon

11. PA66 & 6 Demand Trends
in Europe, Turkey, ME & Africa
Share of PA66 plastics: Share of PA6 plastics :
• In 2010 was just over 50% • In 2010 was 60 %
• In 2020 is expected up to 65% • In 2020 forecast to reach 70%
Annual Average Growth
Annual Average Growth
2000/10 2010/20
2000/10 2010/20
PA6 FIBRES -4.5% -1.4%
PA66 FIBRES -3.2% -1.6%
PA6 PLASTICS 3.0% 3.4%
PA66 PLASTICS 1.6% 3.2%
PA6 TOTAL -0.4% 1.9%
PA66 TOTAL -1.0% 1.3%
PA6 PLASTICS PA6 FIBRES PA66 PLASTICS PA66 FIBRES
2020 884 306 488 258
2015 772 327 414 265
2010 630 352 356 302
2009 512 295 278 269 (Thousands of
Metric Tonnes)
2000Source: PCI Nylon
467 555 304 420
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
11

12. Topics
RadiciGroup’s Profile
Polyamide Market Trends
Market challenges
Sustainability & Performance
Summary and Conclusions
12

13. Market Challenges
Lower CO 2 emissions
Lightweighting
Engine downsizing
Reduced Underbonnet Space
Longer vehicles life time
Safety
Recycling: recycled content, end-of life
recycling
Materials Based on Bio-feedstocks
POLYAMIDE REQUIREMENTS
Better property retention after ageing
Longer life time
Better Chemical Properties Retention
Improved Mechanical/electrical Properties
Easy processing, competitive pricing
13

14. Polyamide Developments
PA 66 synergy of Chemicals and Plastics
• PA66 Engineering Plastics for High Temperature
Applications:
• better properties retention at high temperature versus standard
grades,
• metal substitution, even on very critical thermal conditions,
such as on the new turbo charged engines Euro V and Euro VI.
• High Flow PA 66&6 for Metal Substitution and
higher productivity
• Eco-sustainable PA6.10 and other special
polyamides for Engineering Plastics for Injection
Moulding, Extrusion and for Fibres
14

15. High Temperature Resistant Radilon® HHR for
Injection Molding
Radilon® A RV350 HHR
At the hot air temperature until 210°C this brand new material:
• better properties retention at high temperature versus standard grades,
• ideal for metal substitution, even on very critical thermal conditions, such as on the new
turbo charged engines Euro V and Euro VI.
Can often replace special polymers such as PPA, PPS, PA4,6.
Typical applications:
Charge air cooler
Resonators
Turbo air ducts
Radilon A RV350 HHR 3800 Ner : Heat Ageing in Air
250
200
Tensile Strength at Break (Mpa)
150
170 °C
190 °C
100 200 °C
210 °C
50
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time (h)
Radilon® A RV350 HHR 3800 Ner: Tensile Strength measured at
temperature of 170, 190, 200, 210°C. After 2000h at 210°C the
tensile strength is still more than 50% of its initial value. 15

16. Radilon® Heat Resistant Grades Offer
Radilon S RV LW, S BMV150 K
Radilon A RV LW
Radilon A RV HHR, A BMV HHR
Next Generation High Temperature Radilon (2012)
CUT in contact with air
16

17. High Flow PA 66&6 for
Metal Substitution and higher productivity
PA 66 &6 synergy of Chemicals and plastics
• Building on specialized know-how in high-flow fibre
polymers
• High flow PA66 &6 for engineering plastics:
Metal substitution:
100 kg of weight saving per "Environmental gain"
vehicle -13 g/km CO₂ emission
For Higher productivity, reduced energy
consumption through shorter moulding cycles and
lower processing temperatures
17

18. High Fill Level PA66 & PA6
for Metal Replacement
New grade 50% GF PA66 Radilon® A RV500 RW blk
339 that offers:
Higher stiffness
Higher deformation at break
Improved welding line resistance
Higher impact resistance
Stress-Strain Curves Comparison (23°C, DAM, ISO 527) Stress-Strain Curves Comparison (23°C, DAM) ISO 527
300 Double Injection
120
250
100
200
Stress (Mpa)
80
Stress (Mpa)
150
Radilon A RV500 RW 339 Blk 60 Radilon A RV500 RW 339 Blk
PA66-GF50 PA66-GF50
100 40
50 20
0 0
0,00% 0,50% 1,00% 1,50% 2,00% 2,50% 3,00% 0,00% 0,50% 1,00% 1,50%
Strain (%) Strain (%)
New grades 50% to 60% GF PA6 Radilon® S URV500
L and Radilon® S URV600 L that offer:
High stiffness
Higher flowability
Higher productivity 18

19. Eco-sustainable PA6.10
Radilon® D
Eco-sustainable PA6.10
• obtained from the polycondensation of 1,6 –hexamethylene
diamine and 1,10-decanedioic acid (sebacic acid)
• bio-based polyamide 6.10 family contains 60% of raw
material coming from renewable sources
End uses
Fibres /monofil enduses
Engineering Plastics end uses
PA6.10 for Fibres/monofilament
Key performances
Improved mechanical properties
High resistance to stain (low polarity)
Low moisture absorption
Highly bacteriostatic
High resilience
High resistance to detergents 19

20. Eco-sustainable PA6.10
Radilon® D
Eco-sustainable PA6.10 Engineering Plastics for
Injection Moulding and Extrusion
Key performances
Low density
lower moisture absorption and high dimensional
stability in humid environments
improved chemical resistance (including against zinc
chloride, glycols and road salt solutions) versus PA6 &
PA66
Better thermal resistance than PA11 & PA12
Good mechanical properties
20

21. Eco-sustainable PA6.10
Radilon® D PA6.10: Target Applications
• Flexible and semi-flexible air hoses
• Fuel quick connectors and lines
• Cable ties
• Automotive conditioning system
pipes
• Brake depression pipe
• Parts that need improved
dimensional stability vs PA6 & PA66
• Parts that need improved resistance
to glycols and zinc chloride
solutions
21

22. Topics
RadiciGroup’s Profile
Polyamide Market Trends
Market challenges
Sustainability & Performance
Summary and Conclusions
22

23. PA 6&66 Performance and Sustainability
Sustainability Parameters vs. Performance
Global Energy Requirement (GER) and Mechanical Properties
5,00 GER/Tensile Strength (MJ eq/Mpa)
4,00 3,84
3,28
3,00 2,79
1,93
2,00 1,67 1,54
1,35 1,42
1,00
0,00
PA66 PA6 PP LDPE HDPE PC PETa hiPS
Polyamide shows the
Best Performance Source:
PA6 and PA66: Radici Group
23
Others Polymer: Plastic Europe

24. PA 6&66 Performance and Sustainability
Sustainability Parameters vs. Performance
Global Warming Potential (GWP) Mechanical Properties
GWP/Tensile Strength (Kg CO2 eq/Mpa)
0,140
0,120 0,115 0,112
0,103
0,100 0,093
0,087 0,082
0,080
0,060 0,052 0,052
0,040
0,020
0,000
PA66 PA6 PP LDPE HDPE PC PETa hiPS
Source:
PA6 and PA66: Radici Group 24
Others Polymer: Plastic Europe

25. PA 6&66 Performance and Sustainability
Sustainability Parameters vs. Performance
Global Energy Requirement (GER) and Elastic Modulus
GER/Young’s Modulus (MJ eq/Gpa)
200,00 177,66
150,00
100,00 81,78
46,26 41,40 50,08 47,46 47,12
50,00 27,84
0,00
PA66 PA6 PP LDPE HDPE PC PETa hiPS
Polyamide shows good
Performance Source:
PA6 and PA66: Radici Group 25
Others Polymer: Plastic Europe

26. PA 6&66 Performance and Sustainability
Sustainability Parameters vs. Performance
Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Elastic Modulus
6,000 GWP/Young’s Modulus (Kg CO2/Gpa)
5,000 4,778
4,000 3,261
2,978 2,725
3,000
2,058 1,887
2,000 1,345
0,948
1,000
0,000
PA66 PA6 PP LDPE HDPE PC PETa hiPS
Source:
PA6 and PA66: Radici Group 26
Others Polymer: Plastic Europe

27. RADICIGROUP AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
Continuing efforts to reduce environmental impact
Source:Radici Group
27

28. 28

29. RadiciGroup – Our Way to
Sustainability
29

30. Topics
RadiciGroup’s Profile
Polyamide Market Trends
Market challenges
Sustainability & Performance
Summary and Conclusions
30

31. Summary
Opportunities
Lightweight, downsizing, reduced CO2 emissions
Durability, mechanical performance, easy processing
Strong demand growth in polyamide plastics and core
fibre end-uses in emerging countries
Polyamide versatile and vast offer widening
its scope
Combining best technical features of PA6 & 66, PA6.10
working on polymer, compound, fibres, product design
New applications in plastics: high-flow, metal
substitution, increased productivity
31

32. Conclusions
Sustainability and performance
Good environmental performance in relation to core
technical features
Recycle into the plastics business: post-industrial a
reality, focus on post-consumer
PA6.10: from renewable sources excellent performance to
tackle most challenging technical application
Synergy of chemicals, polymers, plastics and fibres
Cross fertilization of know-how for new product
development
RadiciGroup: a Global Expertise in
Polyamides 32

33. Thank You !
www.radicigroup.com
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