Aug 6 2008
To help household appliance manufacturers accelerate time to market by streamlining regulatory approvals, SABIC Innovative Plastics today announced a full portfolio of flame-retardant materials that have achieved certification from VDE (Verband der Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik e.V), a German testing organization.
Because these 10 materials have successfully passed VDE’s stringent testing for compliance with the IEC 60335 standard for unattended household appliances, particularly the recently introduced glow wire ignition test (GWIT) for flammability, manufacturers do not have to spend time and resources on additional testing of plastic parts. Further, the breadth and depth of this portfolio, featuring many halogen-free grades, provides easy, one-stop shopping. SABIC Innovative Plastics’ investment in proactive certification benefits customers by simplifying and shortening the product development process.
“Passing the new glow wire ignition test is very challenging for conventional thermoplastics because many self-ignite around the test temperature,” said Arthur van Dijk, industry manager Electrical and Lighting, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “By drawing on the legacy of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ exceptional technical expertise, we have been able to engineer nearly a dozen grades that meet this tough safety standard. By choosing from our portfolio, appliance manufacturers will have one less hurdle to overcome in getting their products to market.”
A Diverse Portfolio to Meet Customer Needs
The different IEC 60335-compliant grades include amorphous and semi-crystalline materials. They offer a variety of properties, including thick- and thin-wall molding capability, high heat resistance, transparency or opacity in a range of colors, chemical resistance, hydrolytic stability, and a range of CTI (Comparative Tracking Index) values from 175V to 600V. Most offer flame retardance without the use of brominated or chlorinated additives – materials that can be harmful to the environment – thus meeting the requirements of the European Union’s (EU) Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives. Further, all grades have a full listing in the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) yellow card system.
These materials are suitable for any plastic part in an unattended appliance that is less than 3mm away from a live connection of more than 0.2 amperes. Target applications include: PCB cardholders, terminal blocks, connectors, circuit protection, relays, switches, motor end caps, control boxes, control panels, battery chargers and fuse holders.
Amorphous Materials
- Noryl* Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO) Resin
- Noryl* NH6020 resin: This all-color, high-CTI amorphous material features thin-wall, halogen-free flame retardance of UL-94 V0 at 0.8mm. It offers a ball pressure temperature (BPT) of 125 C and a CTI of up to 600V depending on color. This grade also provides a good balance of flow and mechanical properties, as well as lower density and hydrolytic stability.
- Noryl NH7010 resin: This amorphous material features halogen-free flame retardance of UL-94 V0 at 1.5mm, 5VA at 2mm, and a CTI of up to 600V depending on the color. It has a higher impact than Noryl NH6020 resin for applications with tougher mechanical requirements, but maintains the other grade’s lower density and hydrolytic stability.
- Cycoloy* Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PC/ABS) Resin
- Cycoloy* CX7240 resin: This material features siloxane copolymer technology and non-brominated, non-chlorinated flame retardance meeting UL-94 V0 at 0.75mm, V1 at 0.6mm, V2 at 0.2mm, and 5VB at 1.5mm. Its excellent flow and impact balance enable thin-wall capability in all colors.
- Cycoloy CY6110 resin: Optimized heat flow impact balance and excellent hydrolytic stability characterize this grade. It provides non-brominated, non-chlorinated flame retardance meeting UL-94 V0 at 1.5mm and 5VB at 2.5mm in all colors.
- Lexan* PC resin
- Lexan* ML6411 resin: This material features siloxane copolymer technology and halogen-free flame retardance meeting UL-94 V0 at 1.5mm and 5VA at 3mm. It provides excellent low-temperature impact performance and very good processing characteristics with opportunities for shorter cycle times compared to standard polycarbonate.
- Lexan 945A resin: This non-filled grade, available in transparent and tinted colors, provides halogen-free flame retardance with a UL-94 V0 rating at 3mm and V2 at 1.5
Semi-Crystalline Materials
- Starflam* Polyamide (PA66) Compound
- Starflam* RF0055E compound: This 25 percent glass-filled, easy-molding polyamide 66 provides halogen-free flame retardance reaching UL-94 V0 at 1.6mm.
- Valox* Polybutadiene Terephthalate (PBT) Resin
- Valox* V9561 resin: A 30-percent glass-filled, heat-stabilized PET grade, this material delivers excellent mold release and a UL-94 V0 rating at 0.8mm.
- Valox 771 resin: This 35-percent glass-/mineral-filled PBT grade provides the highest CTI rating possible (600V) and a UL-94 V0 rating at 0.75mm and 5VA at 2mm.
- Valox ENH4550 resin: A 25-percent glass-filled PBT grade, it combines excellent mechanical properties with the new halogen-free flame retardance system offering a UL-94 V0 rating at 0.8mm.
Meeting Tough Flammability Standards
The new glow wire ignition test, which was added to the IEC 60335 standard in 2006, is used to simulate the effect of heat that may arise in malfunctioning unattended appliances, such as dishwashers, dryers, washers, and coffee makers. The plastic material is put in contact with a wire heated to 750 C for 30 seconds. During that time, the plastic cannot ignite for more than five seconds, after which it must self-extinguish. VDE conducts the GWIT in accordance with IEC 60335 requirements. All of the above SABIC Innovative Plastics grades have been awarded a VDE material certificate attesting to their compliance.
For more information on polyamide, click here.