Foamable polyamide composition and foam obtained therefrom

1. A composition consisting essentially of:

a) 21.0 to 99.6 wt % of at least one polyamide comprising at least one carboxylic group;

b) 0.3 to 9.0 wt % of at least one styrenic thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/ethylene/propylene-styrene, and combinations thereof;

c) 0.1 to 3.0 wt % of at least one compound having at least one isocyanate group selected from hexamethylene diisocyanate trimers and biurets, and isophorone diisocyanate dimers and trimers;

d) 0 to 65.0 wt % of at least one filler selected from the group consisting of glass fibres, glass beads, calcium carbonate, silicates, talc, kaolin, mica, carbon black, graphite, wood powders, and synthetic fibres; and

e) 0 to 2.0 wt % of at least one additive;

wherein the sum of wt % of the components a) to e) is 100 wt % of the composition, wherein a foamed extrudate prepared from the composition exhibits a foaming ratio of 11.6 to 14.8%.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , consisting essentially of:

a) 40.0 to 98.7 wt % of at least one polyamide comprising at least one carboxylic group;

b) 1.0 to 4.5 wt % of at least one styrenic thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/ethylene/propylene-styrene, and combinations thereof;

c) 0.3 to 1.5 wt % of at least one compound having at least one isocyanate group selected from hexamethylene diisocyanate trimers and biurets, and isophorone diisocyanate dimers and trimers;

d) 15 to 45.0 wt % of at least one filler selected from the group consisting of glass fibres, glass beads, calcium carbonate, silicates, talc, kaolin, mica, carbon black, graphite, wood powders, and synthetic fibres; and

e) 0.1 to 2.0 wt % of at least one additive;

wherein the sum of wt % of the components a) to e) is 100 wt % of the composition.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one polyamide is selected from the group consisting of polyamide 6, polyamide 6,6, and mixtures and co-polyamides thereof.

4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound having at least one isocyanate group is hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer or isophorone diisocyanate trimer.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, a pore-forming agent, a surfactant, a nucleating agent, a plasticizer, a matting agent, a pigment, a colorant, a heat stabilizer, a light stabilizer, a bioactive agent, an antisoiling agent, an antistatic agent, flame retardant, and a catalyst to accelerate the decarboxylation by reaction of the carboxylic acid functional group with the isocyanate functional group.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition includes about 5 to 65.0 wt % of at least one filler.

7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one filler is selected from the group consisting of glass fibres, glass beads, calcium carbonate, silicates, talc, kaolin, mica, carbon black, graphite, and wood powders.

8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one filler is glass fibers.

9. A method for producing the composition according to claim 1 , comprising:

i) preparing a master-batch comprising a mixture of the at least one styrenic thermoplastic elastomer and the at least one compound having at least one isocyanate group;

ii) heating the at least one polyamide and optionally the at least one filler at a temperature equal to or greater than a melting point of the polyamide to obtain a molten polyamide matrix; and

iii) adding at least a portion of the master-batch to the molten polyamide matrix.

10. A foam obtained from the composition according to claim 1 , wherein the foam exhibits a foaming ratio of 11.6 to 14.8%.

11. An aeronautical vehicle, a motor vehicle, packaging, or sound insulation comprising the foam according to claim 10 .

12. A motor vehicle comprising the foam according to claim 10 .