Lanxess’ new PBT product series Pocan E with excellent tracking resistance

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● Suitable for compact electrical and electronic assemblies

● Plenty of EV application opportunities

● Highest insulation class

● Excellent hydrolytic stability, flame retardancy, fluidity and toughness

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS has developed new polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) compounds for electrical and electronic components. The company is now known as Pocan
E to name the series, it offers a variety of grades including short glass fiber reinforcement, which are particularly suitable for applications in the electric vehicle and electrical and electronic industries due to their tracking resistance and insulating properties.

Thanks to its tracking resistance, the new compound has achieved the highest possible score of 600 in CTIA testing (Comparative Tracking Index – IEC 60112), thus complying with IEC
Maximum insulation class requirements for 60664-1. Dr. Claudia Schmid-Daehling, responsible for PBT product development at LANXESS, explained:
“Previously, glass fiber reinforced PBT compounds with such high tracking resistance were not readily available on the market. Now we have closed the gap. We have also succeeded in providing the material with further advantages such as optimized mechanical properties As well as excellent flow, hydrolysis resistance and flame retardancy. In addition, they are ideal for colouring – such as orange.”
The high applicability of coloring is very important for a variety of safety-related components. For example, high-voltage connectors must be clearly color-coded.

Tracking resistance even above 600volts

Plastic parts used in electrical and electronic parts must increasingly resist undesirable creepage currents. This is due to the high currents and voltages in electric vehicles, the trend towards miniaturization of device components, and the ever-decreasing gaps between metal contacts in connectors and terminals.

Creepage currents occur when conductive paths (promoted by impurities) form on the surface of insulating materials such as thermoplastics. This can lead to a short circuit that can damage the device in the worst case. The risk of such defects is reduced if the insulating material has a high resistance to tracking. Complies with IEC
60112 CTI
A-testing has become a routine testing method. Even though the maximum CTIA value is 600, plastic can be used in the presence of higher voltages up to 1500 volts (DC). With the help of IEC 60664/
VDE
Design guidelines for the 0110-1 standard that “transform” CTI test results accordingly and optimize component designs for higher voltages. Schmid-Daehling explained: “This means that our new Pocan
The E product series can also be used for the rated voltage required for fast charging of electric vehicles, which is significantly higher. ”

Insulation is virtually unaffected by humidity and heat

Pocan
The fundamental advantage of all the new materials of construction in the E-Series is that their excellent electrical insulation properties are virtually unaffected by temperature or humidity under typical operating conditions such as high voltage connectors and terminals. In addition, parts produced with these materials have exceptionally high dimensional stability, are almost completely resistant to stress cracking, and are distinguished by their excellent chemical resistance.

Improved flow and impact resistance

New compounds with a CTI A test score of 600 include Pocan B3215E, Pocan B3217E and Pocan B3235E.
They are reinforced with 10%, 16% and 30% by weight of short glass fibers, respectively, and provide much greater flow than the corresponding standard materials.
This makes it easier to produce fine and thin-walled part geometries during injection molding. Schmid-Daehling said: “In addition, the Pocan
For B3215E and B3217E, the Izod impact score improved by approximately 40% or 50%. ”

Compounds with hydrolytic stability

Pocan B3233HRE and Pocan
B3216XHRE are two examples of PBT materials that are both hydrolytically stable and highly resistant to electrical tracking. The latter is reinforced with 16% by weight of short glass fibers. based on the Society of Automotive Engineers
(SAE/USCAR-2 Rev. 7) In a sample test of the rigorous long-term hydrolysis test, it achieved a “Class 5” – the best possible rating. Schmid-Daehling explained:
“Furthermore, its impact resistance and elongation at break are much higher than the corresponding standard compounds.” Pocan B3233HRE, which contains 30% by weight short glass fibers, achieved a “4” in the USCAR hydrolysis test.
Grade” grade. An additional advantage of this compound is its good flow properties, which remain fluid even at higher processing temperatures.

Halogen-free flame retardant properties can be achieved

The new Pocan E series also includes the Pocan
BFN4231HRE, a PBT compound with 25% by weight short glass fibers, is flame-retardant and hydrolytically stable. This halogen free flame retardant structural material complies with the U.S. testing agency Underwriters
Laboratories Inc.’s UL 94 flammability test requirements, up to a V-0 rating, with a test sample thickness of 0.75 mm. in accordance with SAE/USCAR-2
In the sample test conducted by Rev.7, its high hydrolysis resistance was shown as “Class 3”.