Business News

Playing with Product Properties

Monday 20. September 2010 - Light-colored, flame-retardant BASF plastic with special raw material basis ready for service

Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, has approved the new Ultramid FRee S3U40G5 Balance from BASF in the course of its internal material testing process. The new flame- retardant plastics product range Ultramid FRee that is being introduced at the plastics fair K 2010 combines three central characteristics: in addition to the exceptionally high flame retardance that is achieved without halogen-containing additives, it is available in light colors. This characteristic is becoming increasingly important for electronic component manufacturers, since various, usually light colors simplify association with certain applications. Moreover, there is a definite trend toward ever-lighter, almost white components.

“We have tested the product thoroughly, so that it can now be used in high-volume applications such as circuit breakers, sockets and switch bodies,” explained Alexander Siegrist, responsible for innovative products at Schneider Electric. “In addition to the combination of light-colored and halogen-free flame retardance BASF provides these features in a polyamide that is resistant against chemicals, has low water uptake and is based largely (over 60%) on renewable resources.”

“In response to the specific customer request, our researchers have succeeded in combining some of our new, custom-formulated properties in a new product for the first time”, explained Willy Hoven-Nievelstein, Head of the business unit Engineering Plastics Europe. “In order to yield Ultramid FRee S3U40G5 Balance, the new “FRee” approach to flame retardance has been incorporated into one of the new PA 6.10 products for the first time. In this way, we can also envision other customer-specific materials based on the properties toolbox that we are introducing at the K 2010.