May 21, 2009 -- Ticona Engineering Polymers announced the addition of a new low-chlorine Vectra liquid crystal polymer (LCP) alloy grade to its portfolio of V-0 halogen-free polymers. Designed with improved processability and equivalent properties, the company says the new grade gives designers and manufacturers a "drop-in" option for use in eco-friendly connectors and electrical components.
"The new low-chlorine Vectra alloy grade from Ticona, V143LC, is a high performance thermoplastic that is inherently flame resistant (FR) without the need for flame retardant additives, and can withstand high surface mount technology soldering temperatures used in the electrical and electronics industry," comments Leon Han, Asian LCP product marketing manager. "It provides improved processability and gives customers an option for FR high-temperature nylons that use flame retardant additives, which can cause corrosion to barrels, screws and tooling, and possibly degrade material properties and produce surface imperfections."
As a direct response to market demand for low-chlorine content products, Ticona says the V143LC alloy, which fuses improved polymerization and original compound technologies to reduce chlorine concentrations to below 900 parts per million (PPM). According to the company, this reduction in chlorine concentrations is accomplished without a loss of the superior mechanical properties that make the Vectra alloy a material of choice for making connectors, switches and other electrical components.
Han adds, "The V143LC alloy is designed to allow our customers to use it as a virtual 'drop in' replacement for high temperature FR nylons without having to modify designs, build new molds or make significant tooling changes."
The new grade expands the Ticona portfolio of V-0 halogen-free engineering thermoplastics from Ticona. Both Vectra LCP and Fortron linear polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) offer inherently flame resistant properties without the use of either halogenated or non-halogenated flame retardants. As a highly crystalline, thermotropic (melt-orienting) thermoplastic, Vectra LCP has a UL V-0 rating and can withstand high surface mount technology soldering temperatures, including those needed with lead-free solder (short-term up to 340 degrees Celsius), while Fortron PPS can withstand high temperature assembly (lead-free soldering up to 270 degrees Celsius).
According to Ticona, formulated with enhanced mechanical properties for design flexibility, the low-chlorine Vectra V143LC alloy offers: improved weldline strength; flatness/low warpage in certain geometries; high temperature resistance; high flow; thin walls; and ast cycle times.
"In customer trials and Ticona tests, we've shown the Vectra V143LC alloy maintains all the performance attributes of standard LCP grades while offering higher weldline strength, less warpage and good flow at relatively low injection pressures," concludes Han. "It also provides high strength for thin-wall products with wall thicknesses of less than 0.8 millimeters."
On the Web:
www.ticona.com
