Düsseldorf, October 15, 2024 – The strong powers and high voltages in electric vehicles, the general trend toward miniaturized device components and the ever-decreasing distances between metal contacts (pins) in connectors and terminals have led to pronounced growth in demand for highly tracking-resistant plastics with the highest insulation class. Envalior has responded to these trends by supplementing its portfolio of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) compounds with a dedicated series of highly tracking-resistant material types. This Pocan® E product range has now been expanded and refined.
One new addition is Pocan® B3235E, a compound reinforced with 30 percent short glass fibers by weight. Like its fellow products, it demonstrates outstanding tracking-resistance, achieving the top rating of 600 in the CTI A test. Furthermore, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. has confirmed the CTA values of Envalior’s entire Pocan® E product range in accordance with IEC 60112 for natural, black and orange material grades.
“This gives us a strong position on the market because PBT compounds with such high tracking resistance are rare,” explains Lucas Lichius, Global Product Manager for PBT. Pocan® E will be one of Envalior’s key topics at Fakuma 2024 in Friedrichshafen.
Tracking resistance describes how well a material resists the formation of conductive paths on its surface at high voltages, also known as tracking. The higher the tracking resistance, the lower the risk of short circuits and equipment defects. The most commonly used indicator of tracking resistance is the Comparative Tracking Index (CTI). Glass fiber-reinforced PBT compounds and black PBT compounds are more susceptible to forming electrically conductive paths.
“By using special additive packages, we have succeeded in changing the surface properties of the thermoplastics to minimize this susceptibility. This means all of our Pocan® E grades achieve a CTI A rating of 600, even in orange and black. This is a particular highlight of our product range,” Lichius continues.
Although the rating applies to a test voltage of 600 V, this does not mean the plastics cannot also be used at higher voltages. Using design guidelines in accordance with the IEC 60664/VDE 0110-1 standard, it is possible to “translate” the CTI test result accordingly and modify the component design for higher voltages. Lichius explains: “This is why Pocan® E can also withstand significantly higher-rated voltages of up to 1,500 volts, such as those used in rapid charging stations for electric vehicles.”
The new Pocan® B3235E contains 30 percent short glass fibers by weight. It completes the range of exclusively glass fiber-reinforced E products, which are available in reinforcements of 10, 16 and 20 percent by weight. The new compound is also designed with improved flowability compared with its standard PBT counterpart and boasts extremely good mechanical properties.
One special feature of the Pocan® E portfolio is that the compounds not only offer high tracking resistance, but other properties and strengths that are important for electrical and electronic components – like very good melt flowability and excellent hydrolysis resistance. For example, two extremely hydrolytically stable compounds are available: Pocan® B3233HRE and B3216XHRE. In tests based on the stringent long-term hydrolysis tests of the US Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE/USCAR-2 Rev. 7), test specimens of these materials achieve good Class 4 classification and the best Class 5 grading, respectively.
Sustainable variants of the E series based on PCR (post-consumer recyclate) and/or PIR (post-industrial recyclate) raw materials are currently at a very advanced stage of development. The mass-balanced Pocan® ECO B3235E, which is reinforced with 30 percent glass fibers by weight, is already available to order. The potential applications for the sustainable E products are the same as for the conventional E grades.
For more information on Pocan® and the services provided by Envalior, visit www.envalior.com/en-us/products/pocan.html.
CTI A measurement at Envalior. The entire Pocan® E range achieves a tracking resistance of 600 in CTI A tests.
Photo: Envalior
All About Envalior
Envalior is a global leader in Engineering Materials with over 4,000 employees worldwide. It was established in 2023 through the merger of Lanxess Performance Materials and DSM Engineering Materials. With a long track record of customer-driven innovation, Envalior specializes in developing sustainable and high-performance material solutions. Focus markets include Automotive, New Mobility, Electronics & Electrical, and Consumer Goods. For more information, visit www.envalior.com.
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Candace Roulo
