Novolyte produces a key ingredient for naphthalate based polymers called HNDA. HNDA is an acid based alternative to NDC in producing polyethylene and polybutylene based napthalate polymers, and has the important processing advantage of avoiding methanol generation in the polymerization process. By-product methanol is toxic and flammable, and HNDA is intrinsically free of methanol, unlike NDC.
Napthalate-containing resins have important processing advantages over terephthalate based PET and PBT resins, including higher crystalline melting temperature, higher glass transition temperature, longer resistance to thermal gain and hydrolysis, and a more rapid rate of crystallization compared to PBT and PET resins.
Films based on polyethylene napthalate (PEN) provide significantly better optical, mechanical, therm, gas, and UV barrier performance compared to PET. Underwriters Laboratories® has approved PEN film for a mechanical continuous use temperature of 160°C and an electrical continuous use temperatures of 180°C.
Napthalate based fibers are stronger and more thermally and chemically resistant compared to PET based fiber and provide better protection from degradation by oxygen, UV light, and moisture.