ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE | COMPOUNDS
Carbon additives key to low-carbon future
For polymer compounders, the route to a low-carbon future is likely to mean a greater use of carbon additives of all types. Peter Mapleston learns more
It seems that carbon additives are set to play a key role in society’s move to a low carbon future. Electrically conductive additives based on carbon in various forms are enabling the development of compounds for use in sustainable applications such as electric vehicles, where they bring weight down and improve safety through shielding from interference. And the growing use of some of these additives — such as recycled carbon fibres — also fits well into the circular economy concept. Other macro-economic trends — such as light weighting, electrification and miniaturisation — are also supporting the growth of conductive plastics solutions across sectors as varied as automotive, electronics and packaging, according to Cabot Corporation. The company has developed several new solutions that are intended to help its customers
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address these emerging trends. Cabelec XS6624B conductive concentrate, introduced last October, is designed for polystyrene carrier tapes used in chip packaging where it can solve customer challenges such as dye-build up, uniform conductivity and miniaturisation of parts. Cabelec XS6627A conduc- tive concentrate, commercialised in December, is designed for injection moulding of PP where it is said to enable customers to achieve a balance of conductivity and mechanical performance. And Cabelec XS6325A conductive concentrate, which was launched earlier last year and is based on PA6, is designed to help compounders develop conduc- tive formulations that combine conductivity with other features such as fire retardancy or glass fibre reinforcement. The rapid electrification of cars, together with the continuing growth in the amount of electronic
Main image: Electric vehicles,
autonomous transportation, 5G communica- tions, and smart appli- ances and infrastructure are driving demand for electrically conductive plastics
February 2022 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 47
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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