Semiaromatic polyamide composite article and processes for its preparation

1. A semiaromatic polyamide composite article comprising;

(a) a first component having a surface and comprising a fiber-reinforced material comprising a polyamide composition and reinforcing fibers, wherein the first component is not prepared by injection molding and the fiber-reinforced material has a tensile modulus of at least about 16 GPa as measured by ISO method 527-2:1993 at a rate of 5 mm/min on test specimens having a thickness of 4 mm;

(b) an optional tie layer having first and second opposite surfaces such that when the tie layer is present, the first surface of the tie layer is in contact with the surface of the first component; and

(c) a second component comprising a polyamide composition,

wherein the polyamide composition of the first component and/or the polyamide composition of the second component is a semiaromatic polyamide composition; and

wherein the article is prepared by a process comprising injection molding and/or injection-compression molding the composition of the second component onto the surface of the first component when the optional tie layer is not present and injection molding and/or injection-compression molding the composition of the second component onto the second surface of the optional tie layer when the tie layer is present, and

wherein the semiaromatic polyamide composite article has at least a 58% retention of storage modulus at 125° C. relative to the storage modulus at 25° C.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the fiber-reinforced material is a laminate.

3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing fibers are selected from one or more of glass fibers, carbon fibers, and aramid fibers.

4. The article of claim 1 , wherein the tie layer is present and comprises one or more polyamides, ionomers, and/or polyurethanes.

5. The article of claim 4 , wherein the tie layer comprises one or more of polyamide 6; polyamide 6,6; polyamide 6,10; polyamide 6,12; polyamide 12; polyamide 11; and amorphous polyamides.

6. The article of claim 1 , wherein the fiber-reinforced material has a tensile modulus of at least about 16 GPa as measured by ISO method 527-2:1993 at a rate of 5 mm/min on test specimens having a thickness of 4 mm.

7. The article of claim 1 , wherein the polyamide composition of the first component comprises at least one semiaromatic polyamide.

8. The article of claim 1 , wherein the polyamide composition of the second component is an aromatic polyamide composition comprising one or more of poly(m-xylylene adipamide) (polyamide MXD,6); hexamethylene adipamide/hexamethylene terephthalamide copolyamide (polyamide 6,T/6,6); hexamethylene terephthalamide/2-methylpentamethylene terephthalamide copolyamide (polyamide 6,T/D,T); poly(dodecamethylene terephthalamide) (polyamide 12,T); poly(decamethylene terephthalamide) (polyamide 10,T); decamethylene terephthalamide/decamethylene dodecanoamide copolyamide (10,T/10,12); poly(nonamethylene terephthalamide) (polyamide 9,T); the polyamide of hexamethylene isophthalamide and hexamethylene adipamide (polyamide 6,I/6,6); and/or the polyamide of hexamethylene terephthalamide, hexamethylene isophthalamide, and hexamethylene adipamide (polyamide 6,T/6,I/6,6).

9. The article of claim 1 , wherein the polyamide composition of the first component comprises one or more of poly(m-xylylene adipamide) (polyamide MXD,6); hexamethylene adipamide/hexamethylene terephthalamide copolyamide (polyamide 6,T/6,6); hexamethylene terephthalamide/2-methylpentamethylene terephthalamide copolyamide (polyamide 6,T/D,T); poly(dodecamethylene terephthalamide) (polyamide 12,T); poly(decamethylene terephthalamide) (polyamide 10,T); decamethylene terephthalamide/decamethylene dodecanoamide copolyamide (10,T/10,12); poly(nonamethylene terephthalamide) (polyamide 9,T); the polyamide of hexamethylene isophthalamide and hexamethylene adipamide (polyamide 6,I/6,6); and/or the polyamide of hexamethylene terephthalamide, hexamethylene isophthalamide, and hexamethylene adipamide (polyamide 6,T/6,I/6,6).

10. The article of claim 1 in the form of an automotive seat frame component, engine cover bracket, automotive spare tire well, front-end module, steering column frame, instrument panel, automotive body panel or appliance frame, engine covers, housings for transmission and power delivery components, oil pans, airbag housing canisters, automotive interior impact structures, engine support brackets, cross car beams, bumper beams, pressure vessels such as refrigerant bottles and fire extinguishers, automotive suspension wishbone and control arms, suspension stabilizer links, leaf springs, vehicle wheels, recreational vehicle and motorcycle swing arms, baseball bats, hockey sticks, ski and snowboard bindings, bicycle frames.