WO2017144279A1

WO2017144279A1 - Impact-modified polymer compositions and articles made therefrom

Info

Publication number: WO2017144279A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/052816
Authority: WO
Inventors: Linda M. Norfolk
Original assignee: Solvay Specialty Polymers USA LLC
Current assignee: Syensqo Specialty Polymers USA LLC
Priority date: 2016-02-24
Filing date: 2017-02-09
Publication date: 2017-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-24

Abstract

Polymer compositions including at least one aliphatic polyamide, at least one platelet mineral filler and at least one impact modifier are described herein. The polymer compositions have outstanding room temperature impact performance and desirable dimensional stability over a wide range of temperatures. In some embodiments, the polymer compositions can optionally include at least one additive.

Description

Impact-Modified Polymer Compositions and Articles Made Therefrom

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application

No. 62/299126 filed February 24, 2016, the whole content of this application being incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to polymer compositions including an aliphatic polyamide, a platelet mineral filler and an impact modifier. The invention further relates to articles made from polymer compositions including an aliphatic polyamide, a platelet mineral filler and an impact modifier.

BACKGROUND

Polyamides are widely used in application settings where light-weighting or cost-savings is important. For example, in the automotive industry, there are ongoing efforts to incorporate relatively light-weight and low cost polyamide compositions into automotive components to increase fuel efficiency as well as reduce production costs. In their intended application setting, however, such components are general exposed to environmental conditions including, but not limited to, wide temperature ranges, moisture, and impacts. This can be especially true for automotive parts that are directly exposed to the environment, for example, external automotive parts such as body panels and the like.

Accordingly, it is highly desirable that polyamide compositions used in such application settings have desirable impact performance and dimensional stability, with respect to moisture, over a wide range of temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a platelet mineral filler, denoting width ("W") and thickness ("T").

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are polymer compositions including at least one aliphatic polyamide, at least one platelet mineral filler and at least one impact modifier. It has been surprisingly discovered that polymer compositions described herein have outstanding room temperature impact performance and desirable dimensional stability over a wide range of temperatures. In some embodiments, the polymer compositions can optionally include at least one additive. It has been surprisingly discovered that polymer compositions including at least one aliphatic polyamide, at least one platelet mineral filler, and at least one impact modifier have outstanding room temperature and low temperature impact performance, while maintaining desirable dimensional stability with respect to moisture. In general, mineral fillers are added to polyamide compositions to achieved improved dimensional stability. However, the addition of mineral fillers is generally concomitant with a reduction in impact performance, which is often addressed by the addition of impact modifiers. It has been surprisingly discovered that the use of aliphatic polyamides in conjunction with a platelet mineral filler and an impact modifier results is greatly improved impact resistance, relative to corresponding compositions including an aromatic or semi- aromatic polyamide. For clarity, further reference to aromatic polyamides will implicitly include a reference to semi-aromatic polyamides, unless explicitly indicated otherwise.

In some embodiments, the polymer composition can have a room temperature (23°C ± 2°C), unnotched Izod impact strength of at least about 100 kilojoules/square meter ("kJ/m²"), at least about 150 kJ/m², at least about 180 kJ/m², at least about 200 kJ/m², or at least about 220 kJ/m², as measured according to the ISO 180 standard. In some such embodiments, the polymer compositions of interest herein can have a room temperature, unnotched Izod impact resistance of no more than about 500 kJ/m², or no more than about 400 kJ/m². In some embodiments, the polymer composition can have an unnotched Izod impact resistance at - 40°C of at least about 70 kJ/ m², at least about 100 kJ/ m², at least about 120 kJ/ m², or at least about 130 kJ/ m², as measured according to the ISO 180 standard. In some such embodiments, the polymer composition can have an unnotched Izond impact strength at - 40°C of no more than about 300 kJ/ m², no more than about 250 kJ/ m², or no more than about 200 kJ/ m², as measured according to the ISO 180 standard. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional ranges of impact strength within the explicitly disclosed ranges are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure.

The polymer compositions of interest herein are aliphatic polyamide compositions. As used herein, an aliphatic polyamide composition refers to a polymer composition in which no more than about 15 weight percent ("wt. %") of the polymer are other than aliphatic polyamides. In some such embodiments, no more than about 10 wt. %, no more than about 5 wt. %, no more than about 2 wt. %, no more than about 1 wt. % or no more than about 0.1 wt. % of the polymers are other than aliphatic polyamides. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional aromatic polymer concentrations within the explicitly disclosed ranges are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, wt. % is relative to the total weight of the polymer composition, unless explicitly indicated otherwise.

In some embodiments, the polyamide compositions can optionally include one or more additives. Additives can include components used for the production of polyamide compositions. Examples of desirable additives include, but are not limited to, lubricants, flame retardants, plasticizers, nucleating agents, ultraviolet light stabilizers, catalysts, antioxidants, antistatic agents, coloring agents (e.g. dyes and pigments), mattifying agents, and molding aids.

The Aliphatic Polyamide

The polymer compositions of interest herein include at least one aliphatic polyamide. As used herein, a polyamide has at least about 50 mole % ("mol %") recurring unit (R_pa) including at least one amide group (-C(=0)N(H)-). In some embodiments, the polyamide can have at least about 60 mol %, at least about 70 mol %, at least about 80 mol %, at least about 90 mol %, at least about 95 mol %, at least about 99 mol %, or at least about 99.9 mol % recurring unit (R_pa). Aliphatic polyamides refer to polyamides having no more than about 15 mol % recurring units including an aromatic group. In some embodiments, the aliphatic polyamide can have no more than about 10 mol %, no more than about 5 mol %, no more than about 1 mol %, or no more than about 0.1 mol % recurring units including an aromatic group. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional recurring unit (R_pa) concentration ranges within the explicitly disclosed ranges are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, an aromatic group is a group containing a cyclically conjugated double bond system that follows the Huckel (4n+2) rule and contains (4n+2) pi-electrons, where n is an integer from 1 to 5.

In some embodiments, recurring unit (R_pa) can be represented by the following formula :

O O

H

(CRiRj): N (^CRk^Rl)n N

H (I), where each Ri, R_j, R_k, and Ri on each carbon atom is independently selected from a hydrogen, a halogen, an alky, an alkenyl, an ether, a thioether, an ester, an amide, an imide, an alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, an alkyl sulfonate, an alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, an alkyl phosphonate, an amine, an quaternary ammonium, and any combination thereof; where m is an integer from 4 to 10; and where n is an integer from 6 to 12. The dashed bond in Formula (I) indicates a bond to an adjacent repeat unit. In some embodiments, each Ri and R_j are hydrogens. In some embodiments, each R_k and Ri are hydrogens. In some embodiments, each Ri, R_j, R_k, and Ri are hydrogens. Excellent results were obtained with PA 6, 10 (each Ri, R_j, R_k, and Ri are hydrogens, n =6 and m = 8).

In embodiments, in which recurring unit (R_pa) is represented by Formula I), it can be derived from the polycondensation of at least one aliphatic diamine monomer and at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid monomer or from ring- opening polymerization of lactam monomers. Desirable diamine, dicarboxylic acid and lactam monomers include, but are not limited to C₆ - C₁₂ aliphatic diamines, C₆ - C₁₂ dicarboxylic acids and C₆ - C₁₂ lactams, respectively. The aforementioned aliphatic diamines, dicarboxylic acids and lactams can independently be linear, branched, or alicyclic aliphatic diamines, dicarboxylic acids, and lactams.

Examples of desirable diamine monomers include, but are not limited to,

2- methyl- 1 ,5-diaminopentane, hexamethylenediamine,

3- methylhexamethylenediamine, 2,5 dimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2,2,4- and 2,4,4-trimethyl-hexamethylenediamine, 1 ,7-diaminoheptane, 1 ,8-diaminooctane, 2,2,7, 7-tetramethyloctamethylenediamine, 1 ,9-diaminononane, 5 -methyl- 1 ,9- diaminononane, 1 , 10-diaminodecane, 1 ,1 1-diaminoundecane, and

1 , 12-diaminododecane. Examples of desirable dicarboxylic acid monomers include, but are not limited to, hexanedioic acid, heptanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid, decandedioic acid, undecanedioic acid and dodecanedioic acid. Examples of desirable lactam monomers include, but are not limited to, ε-caprolactam, ω-caprino lactam, 1 1-undecanelactam, and ω-lauro lactam.

In some embodiments, in addition to recurring unit (RPA), the at least one aliphatic polyamide can include additional recurring unit (RPA*) distinct form recurring unit (RPA). Desirable recurring units (RPA*) include, but are not limited to, those described above with respect to recurring unit (RPA). In some such embodiments, the at least one aliphatic polyamide can include no more than about 50 mol %, no more than about 40 mol %, no more than about 30 mol %, no more than about 20 mol %, no more than about 10 mol %, no more than about 5 mol %, or no more than about 1 mol % of the one or more additional recurring units (R_pe*)- A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional recurring unit (R_pe*) concentration ranges within the explicitly disclosed ranges are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the at least one aliphatic polyamide can be at least about 20 wt. %, at least about 25 wt. %, at least about 30 wt. %, or at least about 35 wt. %. In some such embodiments, the at least one aliphatic polyamide can be no more than about 84 wt. %, no more than about 80 wt. %, no more than about 70 wt. % or no more than about 60 wt. %. In some embodiments, the concentration of the at least one polyamide can be at least about 60 wt. %, at least about 70 wt. %, at least about 80 wt. %, at least about 85 wt. %, at least about 90 wt. %, at least about 95 wt. % or at least about 99 wt. %, relative to the total weight of polymers in the polymer composition. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional aliphatic polyamide concentrations within the explicitly disclosed concentrations is contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments in which the at least one aliphatic polyamide includes a plurality of aliphatic polyamides, the total aliphatic polyamide concentration can be within the ranges described above.

The at least one aliphatic polyamide is a semi- crystalline polyamide. The degree of crystallinity can be determined by differential scanning calorimetry ("DSC"), using a heating rate of 10°C/minute, according to the ASTM D3418 standard. In some embodiments, the aliphatic polyamide can have a heat of fusion of at least about 35 Joules/gram ("J/g"), at least about 37 J/g or at least about 40 J/g. In some such embodiments, the aliphatic polyamide can have a heat of fusion of no more than about 55 J/g, no more than about 53 J/g or no more than about 50 J/g. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional heat of fusion ranges within the explicitly disclosed ranges are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure.

The Platelet Mineral Filler

The polymer composition includes at least one platelet mineral filler. As used herein, the platelet mineral filler has an average aspect ratio of from about 6: 1 to about 30: 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a platelet mineral filler. Referring to Fig. 1, the aspect ratio can be defined as the ratio of the largest width ("W") to the largest thickness ("T") of the platelet. In some embodiments, the platelet mineral filler can have an average aspect ratio at least about 7: 1, at least about 8 : 1 , at least about 9 : 1 , or at least about 10: 1. In some such embodiments, the platelet mineral filler can have an average aspect ratio of no more than about 25 : 1 , no more than about 20 : 1 , no more than about 15: 1.

Mineral filler morphology and aspect ratio can be measured using scanning electron microscopy ("SEM") images.

In addition to the aspect ratio, platelet mineral filler can be characterized according to their equivalent spherical diameter. The equivalent spherical diameter can be defined as the diameter of a sphere having the same volume as the platelet. In some embodiments, the platelet mineral filler can have an average equivalent spherical diameter of at least about 1 microns ("μιη"), at least about 1.1 μιη, at least about 1.2 μιη, or at least about 1.3 μιη. In such

embodiments, the platelet mineral filler can have an average equivalent spherical diameter of no more than about 2 μιη, no more than about 1.95 μιη, no more than about 1.9 μιη, or no more than about 1.85 μιη. The equivalent spherical diameter can be measured using SEM.

Platelet mineral fillers include, but are not limited to, talc, kaolin, mica or novaculite. Excellent results were obtained with kaolin as a platelet mineral filler. For clarity, some mineral fillers can be obtained in a variety of morphologies. For example, talc can be obtained as fibers, platelets, needles and steatites and kaolin can be obtained as spheres, cubes or platelets. Accordingly, a platelet mineral filler that is talc refers to talc having a platelet morphology, and analogously for other platelet mineral filler compositions.

The polymer compositions of interest herein have a platelet mineral filler concentration of from about 15 wt. % to about 65 wt. %. In some embodiments, the platelet mineral filler concentration can be at least about 20 wt. %, at least about 25 wt. %, at least about 30 wt. % or at least about 35 wt. %. In some embodiments, the platelet mineral filler concentration can be no more than about 65 wt. %, no more than about 60 wt. %, no more than about 55 wt. %, or no more than about 50 wt. %. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional platelet mineral filler concentrations within the explicitly disclosed ranges are contemplated and within the present disclosure.

The Impact Modifier

The polyeamide composition includes at least one impact modifier. In general, the impact modifier can be selected to impart useful properties to the polyamie compositions, such as desirable tensile elongation at yield and break. In some embodiments, a rubbery low-modulus functionalized polyolefm impact modifier with a glass transition temperature ("T_g") lower than 0°C is desirable. Functionalized polyolefm impact modifiers having a T_g < 0°C include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. patent number 5,436,294 to Desio et ah, filed March 3, 1994 and entitled "Polyphthalamide Blends," and U.S. patent number 5,447,980 to Reichmann, filed September 16, 1993 and entitled

"Stabilized Polyamide Fiber," both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, desirable impact modifiers include, but are not limited to, polyolefms, preferably functionalized polyolefms, and especially elastomers containing functionalized ethylene copolymers, including but not limited to, styrene ethylene butylene styrene ("SEBS") and ethylene propylene diene monomer (M-class) rubber ("EPDM").

Functionalized polyolefm impact modifiers are available from commercial sources, including maleated polypropylenes and ethylene-propylene copolymers available as Exxelor^® PO and maleic anhydride- functionalized ethylene- propylene copolymer rubber comprising about 0.6 weight percent pendant succinic anhydride groups, such as Exxelor^® RTM. VA 1801 from the

Exxon Mobil Chemical Company; acrylate-modified polyethylenes available as Surlyn^®, such as Surlyn^® 9920, methacrylic acid-modified polyethylene from the DuPont Company; and Primacor^®, such as Primacor^® 1410 XT, acrylic acid- modified polyethylene, from the Dow Chemical Company; maleic anhydride- modified SEBS block copolymer, such as Kraton^® FG1901X, a SEBS that has been grafted with about 2 weight % maleic anhydride, available from Kraton Polymers; maleic anhydride- functionalized EPDM terpolymer rubber, such as Royaltuf^® 498, a 1 % maleic anhydride functionalized EPDM, available from the Crompton Corporation. Suitable functional groups on the impact modifier include chemical moieties that can react with end groups of the semi- crystalline polyamide and/or amorphous polyamide to provide enhanced adhesion to the matrix polymer(s).

Other desirable functionalized impact modifiers include, but are not limited to, ethylene-higher alpha-olefm polymers and ethylene-higher alpha-olefm-diene polymers that have been provided with reactive functionality by being grafted or copolymerized with suitable reactive carboxylic acids or their derivatives such as, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic anhydride or their esters, and will have a tensile modulus up to about 50,000 psi determined according to ASTM D-638. Suitable higher alpha-olefms include, but are not limited to, C3 to C8 alpha-olefms such as, for example, propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene and styrene. Alternatively, copolymers having structures comprising such units may also be obtained by hydrogenation of suitable homopolymers and copolymers of polymerized 1-3 diene monomers. For example, polybutadienes having varying levels of pendant vinyl units are readily obtained, and these may be

hydrogenated to provide ethylene-butene copolymer structures. Similarly, hydrogenation of polyisoprenes may be employed to provide equivalent ethylene-isobutylene copolymers.

In some embodiments, it has been found that reactive impact modifiers containing acrylic ester moieties and glycidyl methacrylate moieties can significantly improve the impact performance of the polyamide compositions made therefrom. An example of the aforementioned reactive impact modifier is commercially available from Arkema (Bristol, PA, USA) under the trade name Lotader^® AX8900, which is a terpolymer of ethylene, acrylic ester and glycidyl methacrylate. Another example of the aforementioned reactive impact modifier is commercially available from The Dow Cemical Company (Midland, MI, USA) under the trade name Paraloid EXL™ 2314, which is a core-shell type acrylate based impact modifier comprised of a core primarily comprised of cross-linked poly(n-butyl acrylate) rubber and having a shell phase comprised primarily of a poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) copolymer. In some embodiments, the reactive impact modifier can have an acrylic ester concentration from about 10 mol % to about 40 mol % and/or a glycidyl methacrylate concentration of from about 4 mol % to about 20 mol %. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional acrylic ester moiety concentration ranges within the explicitly disclosed ranges are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure.

The polymer compositions of interest herein have an impact modifier concentration of from about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %. In some embodiments, the impact modifier concentration can be at least 2 wt. % or at least 3 wt. %. In some embodiments, the impact modifier compositions can be no more than about 9 wt. %, no more than about 8 wt. % or no more than about 7 wt. %. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional impact modifier concentrations within the explicitly disclosed concentrations are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure.

Articles

The polymer compositions of interest herein can be desirably incorporated into a wide range of articles. In one aspect, the outstanding room temperature and cold temperature impact performance of the polymer compositions can be leveraged in application settings where the polymer composition exposed to environmental conditions.

Transportation vehicles (e.g., automobiles, motorcycles, boats, and airplanes), by nature, are exposed to varied environmental conditions including wide temperature ranges, moisture (e.g. rain and other water) and impact from objects in the external environment. Correspondingly, it is highly desirable that such vehicles include components having desirable impact performance across a range of temperatures and have desirably dimensional stability in the presence of moisture. In some embodiments, the polymer compositions can be desirably incorporated into transportation components that are intended to be directly exposed to environmental conditions during their intended use (e.g. , when integrated into the a vehicle in its intended fashion). Such transportation components include, but are not limited to, door panels, fenders, bumpers, quarter panels, wheel arches, roof panels, hood panels, trunk panels, gas tank flaps and exterior door handles. In some embodiments, the article includes the polymer composition disposed on substrate of a different composition (e.g. a metal). In some embodiments, the article can consist essentially of the polymer composition.

Articles can be formed form the polymer compositions using methods known in the art. In some embodiments, the polymer composition can be molded to form an article. Molding techniques include, but are not limited to, blow molding, compression molding, extrusion molding and injection molded. In some, the polymer composition can be molded into pellets. The pellets can then be reprocessed using molding techniques to form the article, or any portion thereof.

Should the disclosure of any patents, patent applications, and publications which are incorporated herein by reference conflict with the description of the present application to the extent that it may render a term unclear, the present description shall take precedence.

EXAMPLES

The following Examples demonstrate the thermal and mechanical performance of impact modified polyamide compositions. To demonstrate performance, several samples were prepared, each having at least one polyamide and one or more additional components. The polyamides used were PA 6, 10

(obtained from Radici Group as Radipol^® CD45D), PA 6T/6I/66 (obtained from Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, L.L.C. as Amoder PPA A- 1006) and PA T/66 (obtained from Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, L.L.C. as

Amodel^® PPA A-6000).

The additional components included, an impact modifier (obtained from Addivant as Royaltuf^® 498), a lubricant (calcium stearate), antioxidants

(obtained from BASF as Irganox^® B 1171 or Irganox^® 1010), a color concentrate package, a needle mineral filler (wollastonite, obtained from Vanderbilt

Chemicals as VANSIL^® HR-1500), and a platelet mineral filler (kaolin, obtained from BASF as Translink^® HF900). Table 1 displays the compositions of the samples tested.

TABLE 1

To demonstrate mechanical properties of the compositions, tensile and toughness properties were tested. Tensile strength, elongation, and cord modulus were measured according to the ISO 527-2 standard. Notched and unnotched Izod impact performance was measured according the ISO 180 standard, at room temperature ("RT") and at -40°C. For clarity, when referencing impact performance at -40°C, reference is made to "cold" impact performance. To demonstrate thermal properties, the heat deflection temperature was measured according to the ISO 75 standard. Additionally, the specific gravity of each of the compositions was measured according to the ISO 1183 Method A standard. Results of the mechanical and thermal measurements are displayed in Table 2. TABLE 2

Referring to Tables 1 and 2, for the samples tested, polymer compositions including an aliphatic polyamide in combination with an impact modifier and a platelet mineral filler had surprisingly high impact performance relative to corresponding polymer compositions having an aromatic polyamide. In the impact-modified aromatic polyamide systems (CE6 - CE8), the polymer composition including wollastonite (needle mineral) (CE8) had an RT no-notch impact strength of about 35.2 kJ/m² while that of the polymer composition including kaolin (platelet mineral filler) (CE6) was about 77 % higher

(62.3 kJ/m²). However, in the impact-modified aliphatic polyamide systems (El and CE1), the polymer composition including wollastonite (CE1) had an RT no- notch impact strength of about 39 kJ/m², while that of the polymer composition including kaolin (El) was about 374 % higher (185 kJ/m²).

Moreover, analogous results were obtained with respect to cold impact performance. In particular, with respect to the impact-modified aromatic polyamide systems, CE8 has a cold no-notch impact strength of

about 35.9 kJ/m², while that of CE6 was about 48 % higher (53.1 kJ/m²). With respect to the impact-modified aliphatic polyamide systems, CE1 had a cold no- notch impact strength of about 45.9 kJ/m², while that of El was about 198 % higher (137 kJ/m²).

The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting.

Additional embodiments are within the inventive concepts. In addition, although the present invention has be described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognized that changes can be made in form and detail without departing form the spirit and scope of the invention. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A polymer compositions comprising : at least one aliphatic polyamide; from about 15 wt. % to about 65 wt. % of at least one platelet mineral filler; and from about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of at least one impact modifier.

2. The polymer composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one aliphatic polyamide comprises recurring unit (R_pa) represented by the following formula :

wherein - each Ri, R_j, R_k, and Rl on each carbon is independently selected from a hydrogen, a halogen, an alky, an alkenyl, an ether, a thioether, an ester, an amide, an imide, an alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, an alkyl sulfonate, an alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, an alkyl phosphonate, an amine, an quaternary ammonium, and any combination thereof;

- m is an integer from 4 to 10; and n is an integer from 6 to 12.

3. The polymer composition of claim 2, wherein recurring unit (R_PA) is derived from the polycondensation of - a diamine monomer selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl- 1,5- diaminopentane; hexamethylenediamine; 3 -methylhexamethylenediamine; 2,5-dimethylhexamethylenediamine; 2,2,4-trimethyl-hexamethylenediamine; 2,4,4-trimethyl-hexamethylenediamine; 1 ,7-diaminoheptane;

1.8- diaminooctane; 2,2,7,7-tetramethyloctamethylenediamine;

1.9- diaminononane; 5-methyl- 1 ,9-diaminononane; 1 , 10-diaminodecane;

1,11-diaminoundecane; 1,12-diaminododecane and any combination of two or more thereof, and

- a dicarboxylic acid monomer selected from the group consisting of

hexanedioic acid, heptanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid, decandedioic acid, undecanedioic acid, dodecanedioic acid and any combination of one or more thereof.

4. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the concentration of the at least one aliphatic polyamide is at least about 20 wt. %, at least about 25 wt. %, at least about 30 wt. %, or at least about 35 wt. %.

5. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the concentration of the at least one aliphatic polyamide is no more than about

84 wt. %, no more than about 80 wt. %, no more than about 70 wt. % or no more than about 60 wt. %.

6. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the concentration of the at least one aliphatic polyamide at least about 60 wt. %, at least about 70 wt. %, at least about 80 wt. %, at least about 85 wt. %, at least about 90 wt. %, at least about 95 wt. % or at least about 99 wt. %.

7. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one aliphatic polyamide comprises two or more aliphatic polyamides.

8. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one platelet mineral filler comprises talc, kaolin, mica or novaculite, preferably kaolin or talc, preferably kaolin.

9. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one platelet mineral filler concentration is at least about 20 wt. %, at least about 25 wt. %, at least about 30 wt. % or at least about 35 wt. %.

10. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one platelet mineral filler concentration is no more than about 65 wt. %, no more than about 60 wt. %, no more than about 55 wt. %, or no more than about 50 wt. %.

11. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one platelet miner filler comprises two or more platelet mineral fillers, each independently selected from the group consisting of talc, kaolin, mica or novaculite.

12. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the at least one impact modifier comprises a functionalized polyolefm or functionalized elastomer.

13. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least one impact modifier comprises a functionalized styrene ethylene butylene styrene elastomer ("SEBS") or an ethylene propylene diene monomer ("EPDM") elastomer.

14. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the at least one impact modifier comprises maleic anhydride functionalized EPDM.

15. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the concentration of the at least one impact modifier is at least about 2 wt. % or at least about 3 wt. %.

16. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the concentration of the at least one impact modifier is no more than about 9 wt. % no more than about 8 wt. % or no more than about 7 wt. %.

17. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the at least one impact modifier comprises two or more impact modifiers.

18. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the polymer compositions has a unnotched Izod impact resistance of at least about 100 kJ/m², at least about 150 kJ/m², at least about 180 kJ/m², at least about 200 kJ/m², or at least about 220 kJ/m², as measured according to the ISO 180 standard at 23°C.

19. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the polymer composition has a unnotched Izod impact resistance of at least about 70 kJ/ m², at least about 100 kJ/ m², at least about 120 kJ/ m², or at least about 130 kJ/ m², as measured according to the ISO 180 standard at - 40°C.

20. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the total concentration of polymers that are other than aliphatic polyamides is no more than about 15 wt. %, no more than about 10 wt. %, no more than about 5 wt. %, no more than about 2 wt. %, no more than about 1 wt. % or no more than about 0.1 wt. %.

21. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the platelet mineral filler has an average aspect ratio at least about 7: 1, at least about 8 : 1 , at least about 9 : 1 , or at least about 10: 1.

22. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the platelet mineral filler has an average aspect ratio of no more than about 25: 1, no more than about 20 : 1 , no more than about 15: 1.

23. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the platelet mineral filler has an average equivalent spherical diameter of at least about 1 microns ("μιη"), at least about 1.1 μιη, at least about 1.2 μιη, or at least about 1.3 μιη.

24. The polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the platelet mineral filler has an average equivalent spherical diameter of no more than about 2 μιη, no more than about 1.95 μιη, no more than about 1.9 μιη, or no more than about 1.85 μιη.

25. An article comprising the polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the articles comprises a vehicle component that is exposed to the environment when integrated into the vehicle.

26. The article of claim 25, wherein the vehicle component is selected from the group consisting of a door panel, a fender, a bumper, a quarter panel, a wheel arch, a roof panel, a hood panel, a trunk panel, a gas tank flap and exterior door handles.

27. The article of either claim 25 or 26, wherein the vehicle component is selected from the group consisting of an automobile component, a motorcycle component, a boat component and an airplane component.