- 21 August 2007 -
Halogen-free FR materials designed for various applications

DSM Engineering Plastics, a supplier of engineering thermoplastics, is introducing four new halogen-free flame retardant materials: Xantar C, Arnite XG, Akulon (Ultraflow) K-FKMV5 and Arnitel C.

Xantar C is said to be a clean, bright, stable and good flowing grade of Xantar acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/polycarbonate (ABS/PC) material. It is particularly suitable for use in battery boxes, for delivering enhanced long-term performance and lower scrap rates, and TV housings, for excellent surface appearance and high flow/impact behaviour as well as high stiffness, which enables reduced wall thicknesses for new designs. The unfilled halogen-free polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) Arnite XG is a material based on a green flame retardant system that meets new technical and environmental requirements for lamp sockets, e-motors and connectors.

In power distribution applications such as miniature circuit breakers, Akulon Ultraflow K-FKMV5 is reported to create value for customers by delivering 15% lower injection moulding cycle times, better dielectrical surface properties compared to standard halogen free FR mineral grades and similar stiffness as halogen containing FR mineral grades. Arnitel C halogen-free TPE-E has been tested in automotive cables, exceeding all ISO 6722 class D requirements and showing excellent performance in the LV112 tests. The company claims it has the best high heat aging properties of all TPE-E with continuous use temperature of 3000 hours at 175C and is also hydrolysis resistant. Additional features of the grade are low toxicity of smoke, a high degree of recyclability and no plasticizers. 

DSM Engineering Plastics; www.dsm.com