Dutch chemical producer DSM and US-based Ascend Performance Materials, the former Solutia polyamide business currently owned by private equity investor SK Capital, have formed a global strategic alliance for compounds based on PA 6.6.

Ascend will become the strategic supplier to DSM for base polymer used to produce its Akulon PA 6.6 compounds for engineering plastics applications. At the same time, the Heerlen-based company will globally distribute Ascend's portfolio of PA 6.6 compounds sold under the brand name Vydyne.

DSM is already a major developer and global supplier of polyamide engineering plastics with a portfolio including in addition to PA 6.6 several other high performance polyamides such as its Stanyl brand PA 46, its Stanyl ForTii and EcoPaXX, a bio-based PA claimed to be completely carbon neutral.

In addition, DSM manufactures thermoplastic polyesters PBT and PET (Arnite) as well as TPE (Arnitel) for engineering applications.

One of the largest producers of PA6.6 resin worldwide, Ascend is fully back-integrated into the key chemical intermediates adiponitrile, hexamethylene diamine, and adipic acid.

Through its Vydyne PA66 resin and compounds, the US company said it is focused on growth in engineered plastics applications. The agreement with DSM will give it "significantly greater access to global customers."

At Pensacola, Florida, on the US Gulf Coast, Ascend operates what it claims is the largest integrated site for PA 6.6 worldwide. Also in the US, the company recently added a state-of-the-art 30,000 t/y compounding plant at Greenwood, South Carolina.