CRP Windform composites show high affinity for electric insulation

3D printing service bureau CRP Technology (Modena, Italy) announces that its glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (GFRTP) composite Windform materials, designed for the selective laser sintering (SLS) process, have demonstrated positive electrical insulation performance as confirmed by recent dielectric constant and dielectric strength tests. These tests have revealed excellent results, the company notes, exhibiting a dielectric constant of approximately 4 and withstanding peak voltages of at least 2.5 kilovolts/millimeter (kV/mm).

Identified by their specific mechanical and thermal properties, Windform composites have undergone rigorous dielectric constant and dielectric strength tests, essential for evaluating material performance for applications requiring electrical insulation. In today’s automotive industry, characterized by hybrid or fully electric vehicles, the use of insulating materials is increasingly becoming paramount.

The dielectric constant is a fundamental constant in physics that represents a material’s ability to resist the formation of an electric field within it. During testing, CRP’s GFRTP materials — Windform LX 3.0, Windform GT and Windform FR2 — exhibited a dielectric constant close to 4, with Windform LX 3.0 and FR2 slightly above 4, and Windform GT slightly below. The tests were conducted at the standard frequency of 1 kilohertz.

The dielectric strength test evaluated the maximum electric potential difference the materials can withstand before conducting electricity. Windform LX 3.0, Windform GT and Windform FR2 demonstrated high performance, enduring peak voltages of at least 2.5 kV/mm without any signs of deterioration. Specimens with a thickness of approximately 1.6 millimeters were subjected to sinusoidal voltages alternating at 50 hertz and amplitudes up to 4,000 volts without discharge.

According to the company, these results are significant for electrical applications, where maintaining a dielectric constant around 4 is crucial, especially in fully electric vehicles with high voltage. Moreover, the ability for GFRTP Windform materials to withstand voltages of at least 2.5 kV/mm ensures reliability and safety. Application examples include battery housings, power converter housings, cooling and air conditioning system components, and charging connector housings.