Lanxess
is expanding its range of halogen-free, flame-retardant, glass-fiber-reinforced
polyamide 6 compounds to include Durethan BKV30FN01 and Durethan BKV30FN04
DUS064. Both products are designed for use in thick-walled components with
specially optimized requirements regarding fire resistance.
Potential applications include power tools,
household appliances and industrial equipment. “These structural materials also
offer outstanding potential in the field of electromobility and its periphery –
for components such as thick-walled battery covers or charging plugs and the
associated connector holders,” says Alexander Radeck, expert in flame-retardant
plastics at LANXESS.
The
new products are derived from Durethan BKV30FN04, which is already successfully
deployed in the mass production of flame-retardant components. This compound
meets the requirements of the UL 94 flammability test of the US testing
institute Underwriters Laboratories Inc., achieving an outstanding V-0
classification with a test body thickness of 0.4 millimeters.
Simply
summarized, the thinner the wall, the more flame retardant is required in the
compound in order for it to be eligible for V-0 classification. Many components
requiring a high degree of flame resistance, however, are much thicker than 0.4
millimeters, which means that they can be manufactured using compounds to which
less flame retardant has been added but that still offer sufficient fire
resistance.
Durethan
BKV30FN01 and Durethan BKV30FN04 DUS064 are specially designed for components
with wall thicknesses of 0.75 - 1.5 millimeters and more. The compounds have a
UL V-0 classification with 0.75 millimeters (Durethan BKV30FN01) and 1.5
millimeters (Durethan BKV30FN04 DUS064). “Due to the specially optimized
flame-retardant package, the material types offer excellent processability
during injection molding. They also ensure high-quality surfaces, even with
large, planar component geometries,” says Radeck.
Lanxess
is planning to expand the Durethan BKV FN range to include exceptionally
easy-flow variants for thick-walled components.