AUTOMOTIVE | COMPOUNDS
Right:
Nichicon’s high heat capacitor elements are made using Sabic’s Elcres HTV150
dielectric film
stabilised and flame retardant is suitable for thermal management systems and electric motor parts.
At PCIM Europe 2025 in Nuremberg, Germany, Sabic displayed a range of high-performance materials including EV converters and fast chargers. The company’s exhibit featured Nichicon capacitors made with ultra-thin Elcres HTV150 dielectric film. These advanced film capacitors for AC-DC inverters can operate at high temperatures up to 150° C with minimal derating of applied voltage. “Higher voltages are a common theme across electrical applications from connectors and capacitors to wire and cable,” said Sergi Monros, Vice President, Sabic Polymers, Specialties BU. “While high voltages can increase operational efficiency, they present challenges. Our specialty materials perform well under exposure to high voltages, high temperatures, and harsh conditions, helping customers deliver next-generation electrified components.” Exposure to elevated temperatures can significantly lower the rated voltage of polymer film capacitors. For example, rated voltage for capacitors made with biaxially oriented PP film may be reduced by up to 50% at 125° C or above, requiring thicker gauges to compensate. However, recent testing by Nichicon showed that capacitors made with this particular film experienced minimal derating (4.8% at 130° C and 14% at 150° C). Sabic displayed several other components at the event, including a hybrid metal-plastic DC-DC converter housing for EVs that significantly cuts weight and costs compared to an all-aluminium design and a fast charging unit featuring multiple Sabic materials. Tetra Pak’s polyal, a combination of polymers and aluminium components recovered during the recycling of beverage cartons, is being used in the latest Grande Panda by Fiat. Tetra Pak says it has been exploring commercial applications for polyal in collaboration with various partners for some time, with Fiat agreeing to use it in the Grande Panda’s central console, dashboard, interior front and rear door panels. The components are made using a polyal-based compound called Lapolen Ecotek, produced by Lapo Compound, and the placement of the material in such visible interior parts, rather than in hidden areas, demonstrates its aesthetic potential.
32 COMPOUNDING WORLD | August 2025
Fiat chose the
material for its shimmering effect, created by the
aluminium content, and because Lapo
Compound was able to precisely match the specific shade of blue
required. The car is already on the market in most European countries, and will be available outside Europe by the end of the year. Giuseppe Crisci, General Manager at Lapo Compound, said: “Our product innovation has successfully met this technical challenge for Fiat, which is testament to our dedication to sustainable innovation that supports a journey toward a more circular, responsible future.”
Additives
Additive suppliers have been supporting compounds going into electrical applications. Bruggolen TP-H2217 from Brüggemann belongs to a new class of electrically neutral heat stabiliser designed to meet advancing electric and electronics (E&E) and e-mobility requirements. It increases the continuous service temperature of reinforced polyamides to up to 8,000 hours at 170° C, and sets a new standard for thermal stabilisers without compromising the CTI or flammability rating (UL 94). Brüggemann offers solutions for highly efficient flow enhancement tailored to the needs of various polyamide types. These include Bruggolen P1507 for aliphatic, Bruggolen P1810 for semi-aromatic, and Bruggolen P2201 for flame-retardant polyamides. The addition of these flow enhancers enables lightweight, thin-walled and complex part design without compromising mechanical performance. The excellent flowability supports glass fibre loadings up to 60%. As EV platforms expand globally, compounders
face increasing demands for faster cycle times, low emissions, and material compatibility, especially when formulating with polyamides and PC/ABS
blends.CAI Performance Additives has developed two additives that address these challenges through targeted performance enhancements. ST-PA9 is a multifunctional additive that significantly increases melt flow in both neat and reinforced PA systems, including PA6, PA66, and 30% glass-filled grades. In recent automotive applications, the additive has been used to improve processing speed and dispersion in PA-based EV components, with benefits including: 173% MFI increase in PA6 with 30% GF; enhanced
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: SABIC
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