# US 11,299,627 B2 · Polyamide compositions and plating applications thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,627 B2 - Document ID: US11299627B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/455,278 - Filed: 2019-06-27 - Published: 2020-01-02 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-27 - Assignees: Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC - Applicants: Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC - Inventors: Kimberly M. White; Scott E. Powers; Jacob G. Ray; Bradley J. Sparks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299627B2 ## CPC - C08K 3/22: of metals - C08L 77/02: Polyamides derived from omega-amino carboxylic acids or from lactams thereof (C08L77/10 takes precedence) - B29C 45/0001: {characterised by the choice of material} - C08K 3/013: Fillers, pigments or reinforcing additives - C08K 3/014: Stabilisers against oxidation, heat, light or ozone - C08K 3/016: Flame-proofing or flame-retarding additives - C08K 3/26: Carbonates; Bicarbonates - C08K 3/34: Silicon-containing compounds - C08K 3/346: {Clay} - C08K 5/0091: {Complexes with metal-heteroatom-bonds} - C08K 5/3465: condensed with carbocyclic rings - C08K 9/06: with silicon-containing compounds - C23C 18/1641: {Organic substrates, e.g. resin, plastic} - C23C 18/1651: {Two or more layers only obtained by electroless plating} - C23C 18/1653: {Two or more layers with at least one layer obtained by electroless plating and one layer obtained by electroplating} - C23C 18/24: using acid aqueous solutions - B29K 2077/00: Use of {PA, i.e.} polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - C08K 2003/2224: {Magnesium hydroxide} - C08K 2003/265: {Calcium, strontium or barium carbonate} - C08K 2201/019: the composition being defined by the absence of a certain additive - C08L 2201/08: Stabilised against heat, light or radiation or oxydation - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to polyamide compositions and resulting injection-molded articles that can be plated, e.g., metal coated, to form aesthetic injection-molded articles. The polyamide compositions may include from 45 wt. % to 75 wt. % of an polyamide, from 2 wt. % to 40 wt. % of an etchable filler, from 10 wt. % to 40 wt. % of a semi-structural mineral, and optionally from 0.1 wt. % to 13 wt. % of additive. The polyamide composition imparts very good surface appearance to injection-molded articles that are substantially free of visual defects. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A polyamide composition consisting of: from 45 wt. % to 75 wt. % of a polyamide, wherein the polyamide is PA-6,6/6, PA-6,6/6I, or PA-6,6/6I/6, or combinations thereof, and the polyamide comprises greater than 65 wt. % 6,6 units; greater than 2 wt. % and less than 18 wt. % of an magnesium hydroxide; from 10 wt. % to 40 wt. % of a semi-structural mineral; and from 0.1 wt. % to 13 wt. % of additive; wherein the semi-structural mineral does not include mica or wollastonite; wherein the composition has an R-value of at least 10 as measured by Byk Gardner Wave Scan meter; and wherein the additive comprises inorganic stabilizers, organic stabilizers, lubricants, dyes, pigments, nucleating agents, metal flakes, impact modifiers, antistatic agents, conductivity additives, mold-release agents, optical brighteners, adhesion promoters, ageing inhibitors, antioxidants, antiozonants, light stabilizers, UV stabilizers, UV absorbers, UV blockers, inorganic heat stabilizers, organic heat stabilizers, processing aids, crystallization accelerators, crystallization retarders, and flow aids, wherein the composition does not comprise any glass fibers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the polyamide comprises PA-6,6 units and from 1 wt. % to 25 wt. % PA-6 units. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the magnesium hydroxide is coated with one or more of an organosilane coating, a vinylsilane coating, or an aminosilane coating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the magnesium hydroxide comprises a silane coupling agent and has an average particle size ranging from 0.1 microns to 2.0 microns. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the additive comprises from 1 wt. % to 10 wt. % of pigment, from 0.05 wt. % to 1 wt. % of lubricant, and/or from 0.25 wt. % to 2 wt. % of processing aid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The composition of claim 5, wherein the pigment comprises a thermally stable nigrosine and wherein the lubricant comprises zinc stearate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the semi-structural mineral comprises one or more of kaolin or talc. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a distinctness of image of at least 85 as measured by Byk Gardner Wave Scan meter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the R-value is at least 10.5 as measured by Byk Gardner Wave Scan meter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a density less than 1.5 g/cm3 and a melting point ranging from 220° C. to 260° C. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a distinctness of image of at least 90 as measured by Byk Gardner Wave Scan meter and an R-value of at least 10.5 as measured by Byk Gardner Wave Scan meter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, the semi-structural mineral comprises kaolin, wherein the composition has a density less than 1.5 g/cm3, wherein the composition has a distinctness of image of at least 90 as measured by Byk Gardner Wave Scan meter and an R-value of at least 10.5 as measured by Byk Gardner Wave Scan meter. ### Claim 13 A polyamide composition consisting of: from 45 wt. % to 75 wt. % of a an polyamide , wherein the polyamide is PA-6,6/6, PA-6,6/6I, or PA-6,6/6I/6, or combinations thereof, and the polyamide comprises greater than 65 wt. % 6,6 units; greater than 2 wt. % and less than 18 wt. % of a silane-coated magnesium hydroxide; from 10 wt. % to 40 wt. % of kaolin; and from 0.1 wt. % to 13 wt. % of additive, wherein the composition has a distinctness of image of at least 85 as measured by Byk Gardner Wave Scan meter and a tensile strength of at least 63 MPa as measured by ASTM D638; and wherein the additive comprises inorganic stabilizers, organic stabilizers, lubricants, dyes, pigments, nucleating agents, metal flakes, impact modifiers, antistatic agents, conductivity additives, mold-release agents, optical brighteners, adhesion promoters, ageing inhibitors, antioxidants, antiozonants, light stabilizers, UV stabilizers, UV absorbers, UV blockers, inorganic heat stabilizers, organic heat stabilizers, processing aids, crystallization accelerators, crystallization retarders, and flow aids, wherein the composition does not comprise any glass fibers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The composition of claim 13, wherein the silane-coated magnesium hydroxide has an average particle size ranging from 0.1 microns to 2.0 microns. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The composition of claim 13, wherein the additive comprises a nucleating agent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The composition of claim 13, wherein the additive comprises from 0.5 wt. % to 5 wt. % of nigrosine, from 0.05 wt. % to 1 wt. % of zinc stearate, from 0.25 wt. % to 2 wt. % of a substituted piperidine compound. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An injection-molded article formed from the composition of claim 1. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The injection-molded article of claim 17, wherein the injection-molded article is plated with a metal comprising one or more of copper, manganese, tin, nickel, iron, chrome, zinc, gold, platinum, cobalt, phosphorus, aluminum, and alloys thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The injection-molded article of claim 17, wherein the injection-molded article is plated with chrome in the absence of hexavalent chromium.