LANXESS expands customer service for the 
electrical and electronics industry

•	Application-focused experimental mold developed 
•	Investigation of the processing characteristics of complex compounds for electrical and electronic applications
•	Analysis and assessment of challenges close to reality in part production

Cologne, August 26, 2021 – In addition to the automotive industry, the electrical and electronics (E&E) industry is the most important field of application for the LANXESS thermoplastic compounds Durethan (polyamide 6 and 66) and Pocan (polybutylene terephthalate). The specialty chemicals company is expecting a sharp rise in demand for the flame-retardant variants of these plastics due to factors such as increasing electric mobility and digitalization in all areas of life. Processors of these plastics are being supported with an extensive range of technical services such as demolding and flow property analyses. LANXESS has recently expanded its service offering in this area. An experimental injection mold for an application-focused part was developed in the company’s own technical lab for polymer processing at the Dormagen plant. The mold reflects the typical challenges encountered during injection-molding of flame-retardant polyamide and polyester compounds. 

“We want to use this mold for the realistic analysis of new flame-retardant as well as hydrolysis-stabilized materials. First, our aim is to identify their special processing characteristics ahead of time so that we can adapt the formulations, where required, already during the product development stage,” explains Katharina Schütz, a project engineer at the polymer processing lab of the High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit. “Second, we want to give processors of our flame-retardant plastics specific processing recommendations for serial production.” 

Reproducing and addressing customer challenges in a practice-based manner

Most flame-retardant thermoplastics have a narrower processing window than standard products due to the additives that are used. If the process parameters are not chosen ideally, this can result in deposits on the mold or surface defects on the component. Non-ideal processing can also often impair the mechanical properties of the compounds. Schütz: “This experimental mold allows us to reproduce these challenges in a practice-based manner and find ways for improvement.” 

The injection mold developed by the HPM plastics experts is a highly functional, housing-like demonstrator part integrating numerous aspects from different areas of application. Its complex geometry exhibits sudden changes in wall thickness, openings, larger planar sections, ribs and rough “imitations” of plug connections. Snap fits with different geometries – similar to those on e.g. terminal blocks – have also been integrated along with screw bosses of varying diameters. 

Material analysis tests on the component

“The palm-sized part can also be used for mechanical, electrical and flame-retardant testing to evaluate the performance of a material depending on various process parameters and practical geometry,” explains Sarah Luers, an expert in E&E application development at HPM. The tests that HPM performs among others at its part testing center include drop tests, tracking resistance measurements in accordance with UL 746A (Comparative Tracking Index, CTI) or glow-wire tests in accordance with IEC 60695-2-11 to -13. 

HiAnt – a service offering that pays for itself

All these services aimed at project partners are part of the HiAnt brand, which encompasses the extensive range of expertise that HPM has to offer in material, application, process and technology development. The support covers all stages of application development – from concept design, material optimization and mechanical and rheological simulation through to the start of serial production.

Analysis of stress cracks in overmolded metal parts

HPM is constantly expanding its processing toolbox so that it can continue to provide effective support for its customers in the E&E industry. An experimental mold for plastic-metal hybrid parts will also be brought into operation in the future. “Plastic components featuring overmolded metal inserts can be susceptible to stress cracks when they are exposed to large temperature fluctuations. We want to use the new hybrid mold to investigate and improve the crack resistance of materials that we are specially developing for these applications,” says Luers. The business unit is also planning to use the mold to validate a simulation model for predicting stress cracks depending on factors such as the material, component geometry and processing parameters.

For more information on LANXESS flame-retardant compounds and related HiAnt services, visit www.flame-retardancy.lanxess.com respectively www.hiant.lanxess.com.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.1 billion in 2020. The company currently has about 14,800 employees in 33 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.

Forward-Looking Statements
This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors, nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person's officers, directors or employees accepts any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.

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