Designed for short cycle times

•	New unreinforced polyamide 6 compound with outstanding flame resistance
•	Cost-effective alternative to polyamide 66
•	Perfect for the production of components with thin walls

Cologne, October 11, 2021 – Flame-retardant polyamide 66 compounds that are not reinforced with glass fibers have also become significantly more expensive lately due to the high price of the base plastic. With Durethan B30SFN31, LANXESS has developed a cost-effective alternative material that can be injection-molded in similarly short cycle times. “Our new halogen-free flame-retardant polyamide 6 compound is particularly suited to thin-walled components that need to be produced in large quantities at low costs,” explains Alexander Radeck, an expert in flame-retardant plastics at LANXESS. The design material that can be given any color was developed and optimized in close cooperation with customers from the electrical and electronics industry (E&E) for specific applications. For example, it is especially suitable for terminal blocks to which cables are connected in power distribution boards or control cabinets. 

Immediately usable in all colors

The heat-stabilized compound meets the requirements of the UL 94 flammability test of the US testing institute Underwriters Laboratories Inc. in all colors, achieving an outstanding V-0 classification for wall thicknesses of 0.4 to 3.0 millimeters and is listed on the UL Yellow Card accordingly (“All Colors”). “This yields a cost advantage for the processors. They can take the plastic that we have colored according to their wishes and use it straight away, without needing to color it themselves and going through the trouble and expense of having it certified at UL,” says Radeck. Color is an important design element in many E&E applications and is often used to identify components for safety purposes. 

Tracking-resistant, flowable, and easy in processing

The new thermoplastic exhibits good tracking resistance even at high electrical voltages. The latter is reflected in a CTI value (comparative tracking index, IEC 60112) of 600 V which reduces the risk of short circuits and defects caused by creepage currents. This enables more-compact component designs. As a result, devices are smaller, in line with the trend for miniaturization. One of the compound’s strong points is its high elongation at break, which is a measure of plastic deformability under mechanical strain. “The elongation at break of our material is high even when it is freshly molded, which means that components can be mounted immediately after production and that integrated snap fits, for example, do not break before they are engaged,” explains Radeck. Another benefit of the material is its excellent melt flowability. This makes it easier to injection-mold components with very delicate, thin-walled geometries. Compared with unreinforced flame-retardant polyamide 66 compounds, the material can be processed more gently at lower temperatures. 

You can find more detailed information about flame-retardant compounds from LANXESS at www.flame-protection.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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