Commercial polyamides, such as PA-6 and PA-66, are generally regarded as tough and ductile materials. They exhibit high tensile and impact strengths. They become even tougher after equilibration with ambient humidity. Water, when absorbed into PA's, has a plasticization effect. However, at low humidity and / or low temperatures, the lack of plasticizing water imparts polyamides brittleness and may result in product failure.

The impact performance of polyamides can be improved by compounding with elastomeric components, such as Lucofin® 1492M/Lucofin® 1492M HG and Lucofin® 1400MN.
Lucofin® 1492M/Lucofin® 1492M HG are maleic anhydride (MAh) grafted variations of Lucofin® 1400MN. Due to the innovative, reactive extrusion technology, the extremely polar MAh in Lucofin® 1492M/Lucofin® 1492M HG integrates readily with all kinds of polyamides in contrast to competing products. Commercial impact modified polyamides typically contain 5 % to 25 % of Lucofin® 1492M/Lucofin® 1492M HG to maximize their toughness while retaining the high level of tensile strength and heat deflection temperature. Not reinforced PA as well as glass fibre reinforced PA can be impact modified as well.

Lucofin® 1492M/Lucofin® 1492M HG impact modified PA blends offer a unique combination of drop weight impact strengths coupled with a good balance of modulus, tensile strength, heat, solvent and abrasion resistance. These properties enable their use in many engineering and metal replacement applications.