Extra safety from flame-retardants

Ascend Performance Materials, a leading producer of polyamide 66 resin, launched Vydyne® FR350J, a new high-performance compound based on polyamide 66 (PA66) that will bring extra safety to electrical connectors used in unattended home appliances.  In addition to excellent electrical and flammability properties, Vydyne FR350J also exhibits high ductility and elongation at break (15%), providing engineers with greater freedom when designing parts such as living hinges and snap fits. 

 

The new unreinforced, flame-retardant compound also has superior melt flow and requires lower pressure to fill molds; reducing cycle times and production costs. Vydyne FR350J has a wide processing window and is color stable for natural and colorable applications. “Home appliances are getting smarter and demand for these so-called ‘smart’ products continues to grow. That means they will incorporate more electronics and more connectors,” said Mr. Vikram Gopal, Ascend’s Vice President of Technology. “Vydyne FR350J will make sure that appliances are safe as well as smart.”  

 

Additional features of Vydyne FR350J include an RTI electrical rating of 130°C (RTI is the relative temperature index; RTI electrical is an indication of how critical electrical insulating properties vary with temperature) and a UL94 V-0 flammability rating at thicknesses down to 0.4 mm. The flame retardant additive package is REACH and RoHS compliant and exhibits low corrosion for improved electrical contact performance.

 

 

Vydyne FR350J exhibits a best-in-class glow wire ignition temperature (GWIT) of 960°C at all thicknesses (up to 3.0 mm) according to the test method IEC 60695-1-13. Finished molded parts tested according to IEC 60335-1 achieved glow-wire end product test values of 750°C at all thicknesses. Vydyne FR350J also achieves PLC 0 ratings in hot wire ignition (HWI) and high amp arc ignition (HAI) tests carried out according to UL 746A. The product was launched at Fakuma 2017.  

 

PBT compound with high glow-wire resistance

LANXESS also expanded its portfolio of halogen-free, flame-retardant compounds based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyamide (PA 6, PA 66). “In terms of properties and processing, our new materials are on par with, or even superior to, their counterparts containing halogen-based flame retardance packages. We believe that sales of these products will benefit in the future from global trends, such as Industry 4.0, electromobility and digitally networked building systems, household devices and consumer electronics,” according to Mr. Alexander Radeck, Applications Developer in the LANXESS High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit.

 

New additions to the Pocan BFN PBT product line, which previously encompassed materials with 13, 25 and 30 percent glass fiber reinforcement, include Pocan BFN2502, BFN4221 and BFN6410. Pocan BFN2502 is a non-reinforced material that displays a high elongation at break of over seven percent despite its halogen-free flame retardance package. It passes the UL 94 standard fire tests of the U.S. testing organization Underwriters Laboratories, achieving the best classification of V-0 (0.4 millimeters). Another advantage is its high tracking resistance of 600 volts (CTI A, Comparative Tracking Index, IEC 60112). LANXESS sees good opportunities for this easy-flow material in components requiring high-level, consistent electrical insulation properties and high dimensional stability.  

 

Pocan BFN4221 has a glass fiber content of 20 percent. Like its “sister products”, this compound displays not only high flame retardance attributable to a low tendency toward corrosion in contact with metals, but also good thermal aging resistance and color stability at elevated temperatures, a wide processing window and good suitability for high-contrast laser marking.

 

Pocan BFN6410 targets applications in lighting and LED technology. It also offers high blue light resistance and high lightproofness even at thin wall thicknesses. The material further displays good mechanical behavior and a low tendency to warp. It achieves the best classification in UL 94 fire testing of V-0 (0.75 millimeters). IRNA

 

 At LANXESS, a halogen-free flame-retardant PBT compound that shows outstanding results in glow-wire testing is under development.