Lanxess halogen-free, flame-retardant compounds aim for electromobility

Lanxess (Cologne, Germany) is expanding its range of halogen-free, flame-retardant, glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) compounds to include Durethan BKV30FN01 — which is reinforced with 30% glass fiber — and Durethan BKV30FN04 DUS064. Both products are designed for use in thick-walled components with optimized requirements regarding fire resistance. Potential applications include power tools, household appliances and industrial equipment.

“These structural materials also offer outstanding potential in the field of electromobility and its periphery for components such as thick-walled battery covers or charging plugs and the associated connector holders,” says Alexander Radeck, an expert in flame-retardant plastics at Lanxess.

The new products are originally derived from Durethan BKV30FN04, which the company says is already successfully deployed in the mass production of flame-retardant components. This compound meets the requirements of the UL 94 flammability test of the U.S. testing institute Underwriters Laboratories Inc., achieving a V-0 classification with a test body thickness of 0.4 millimeters.

Further, Durethan BKV30FN01 and Durethan BKV30FN04 DUS064 are said to be specially designed for components with wall thicknesses of 0.75-1.5 millimeters and more. The compounds have a UL V-0 classification with 0.75 millimeters (Durethan BKV30FN01) and 1.5 millimeters (Durethan BKV30FN04 DUS064).

“Due to the specially optimized flame-retardant package, the material types offer excellent processability during injection molding. They also ensure high-quality surfaces, even with large, planar component geometries,” says Radeck.

LANXESS is planning to expand the Durethan BKV FN range to include easy-flow variants for thick-walled components.