MOSCOW (MRC) -- Specialty chemicals company Lanxess has developed a new halogen-free flame-retardant polyamide 6 for electrical switches such as circuit breakers under the proprietary name Durethan BKV 25 FN27, as per the company's press release.
Compared to the mineral-filled halogen-free polyamide 6 grades often used in the manufacture of circuit breakers for low-voltage applications, the glass-reinforced material impresses through its high mechanical strength and thermal stability. Components made from this effectively withstand the enormous mechanical stresses and high temperature peaks that occur during a short circuit.
"With this property profile our material also meets the requirements placed on a circuit breaker for higher performance classes (rated currents). This results in potential savings for the producers of these safety parts," says Alexander Radeck, an expert in flame-retardant thermoplastics at Lanxess High Performance Materials business unit. The material already is demonstrating its advantages in circuit breakers manufactured by the Legrand group.
The savings result from the fact that Durethan BKV 25 FN27 can be used for circuit breakers of several performance classes. "For the manufacture of various parts therefore only one material is required. Producers benefit from lower costs, for example for storage and logistic processes, but also in the quality control," Radeck explains.
As MRC wrote previously, in April 2015, the new Rhein Chemie Additives business unit of specialty chemicals company Lanxess developed innovative halogen-free flame retardants that are based in part on a newly developed type of phosphorus chemistry. These are characterized by low fogging and scorching, making them ideal for use in the furniture and automotive industries. The new Disflamoll TP LXS 51092 grade was primarily developed for PU flexible foam and elastomers while Levagard TP LXS 51114 is especially suitable for flexible foam. Both flame retardants can be used in polyester as well as in polyether flexible foams. Foams manufactured using Levagard TP LXS 51114 even meet the German Association of the Automotive Industry's strict VDA 278 standard for the characterization of non-metallic materials in cars.
Lanxess is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 8.0 billion in 2014 and about 16,600 employees in 29 countries. The company is currently represented at 52 production sites worldwide. The core business of Lanxess is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.
MRC