NSF Certifies Solvay’s PEEK & PPA Grades for Use in Food Processing & Consumer Appliances

Solvay Specialty Polymers, among the leading global suppliers of high-performance thermoplastics, announced at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTC&OS) that the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified seven Amodel® polyphthalamide (PPA) and KetaSpire® polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin grades under its NSF/ANSI 51 standard for food equipment materials.

NSF’s certification greatly expands Solvay’s broad and growing portfolio of high-performance materials solutions targeting the manufacture of commercial food service equipment for aviation and rail transport, as well as hotel, catering and domestic applications. Target applications further encompass boilers, beverage dispensers, water tanks, cutting boards and stock pots, in addition to related components like tubing, gaskets, chassis, pistons and valves. 
“As one of the food service industry’s most recognized and requested certifications, the NSF standard is an essential criterion for materials suppliers hoping to compete in this dynamic industry,” said Andreas Lutz, global market manager for consumer goods at Solvay Specialty Polymers. “Achieving this latest NSF listing reaffirms our commitment to helping customers worldwide to innovate new food service appliances and applications with enhanced performance, reliability and appeal.”

Three glass-filled Amodel® PPA grades, offered as black and naturally colored options, constitute six of the newly certified grades. They include Amodel® FC-1140 (40% glass fiber), Amodel® FC-1150 (50% glass fiber) and Amodel® FC-1160 (60% glass fiber). The seventh NSF-certified product is KetaSpire® KT-880 NT PEEK, an unreinforced resin characterized by outstanding wear and abrasion resistance combined with high surface hardness, best-in-class fatigue performance, and excellent chemical resistance. All of these materials are certified under NSF/ANSI 51 for applications reaching 100°C (212°F), but retain their excellent mechanical properties at continuous-use temperatures up to 120°C (248°F). They provide reliable, long-term performance, as well as strong resistance to oils, greases, hot water, steam and common household cleaners and descalers.
Further, these Solvay grades all currently meet corresponding food service regulations under the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and EU Commission. Compared to competing thermoplastics, such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyoxymethylene (POM) and aliphatic polyamides (PA6 and PA66), Solvay’s advanced polymers provide a higher level of performance over a wide temperature range in harsh food service environments. In addition, their excellent thermal and dimensional stability, low moisture absorption and heat/steam resistance make all of Solvay’s newly certified resins attractive candidates for replacing metal, helping customers save costs and benefit from more design freedom. 

Solvay’s expanding portfolio of NSF-approved polymers is finding increasing use in commercial consumer goods applications. In addition to the seven newly certified grades, the company’s portfolio of solutions for food processing and household appliance applications includes Radel® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), a super-tough, transparent, high-heat, alternative to glass; Veradel® polyethersulfone (PESU), which combines good chemical resistance with high heat resistance; and Solef® polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a polymer with exceptional chemical resistance that is widely used for fittings, pipes and tubes in the food industry.
Solvay showcased Amodel® PPA, KetaSpire® PEEK and other high-performing polymers in booth 7A60 at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2015, held from April 14-16 at the Hamburg Messe & Congress, in Hamburg, Germany.

Source: Solvay