HIGH TEMPERATURE PLASTICS | MATERIALS


Higher temperatures and voltages, electrical shielding and flame retardancy are some of the


operational demands that new high-performance materials are tackling. Mikell Knights reports on new developments


Thermoplastics tackle performance extremes


Components for the automotive, electronic and aviation industries as well as for connectivity in the Internet of Things continue to become thinner, lighter, and smaller, increasing the requirements of high temperature-resistant polymers and com- pounds. The latest material developments are designed to maintain stability and mechanical integrity in application areas drawing higher power and higher voltage, while offering additional performance properties from flame retardance to EMI shielding to moisture resistance, and more. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, a devel-


oper of high-performance materials and advanced products for the automotive sector and general industry, has created an injection moulding grade cross-linkable thermoplastic that resists melting at extreme temperatures of up to 1,200° C. Its new Quantix Ultra material is based on


grades of polyketone and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) that are already temperature resistant and is formulated from the precise addition of fillers such


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as glass or carbon fibres that reinforce its mechani- cal stability even under enormous heat, said Kira Truxius, Material Expert Thermoplastics at the company. Cross-linking of the plastic molecular chains ensures that the product maintains its shape even under extreme conditions. “The material does not melt or ignite at high


temperatures,” said Truxius. Instead, it exhibits elastic behaviour that can be compared to an elastomer. “It also has a glass transition tempera- ture that is 53 Kelvin higher than other PEEK-based grades, which means that it retains its rigidity and flame protection over a significantly longer period of time,” said Truxius. In laboratory tests, a 2 mm thick material sample


resisted an applied burner flame with a tempera- ture of 1,200° C for over 25 minutes. In further tests simulating the emission of hot particles under high pressure, which can occur if the gases in a battery cell are abruptly discharged, the Quantix Ultra withstood the stress test for 20s. This compares to


Main image: New Starflam grades from Ascend Performance Materials are designed for safety and


performance in appliances and EV charging. In the Glow Wire End Product Test, finished connectors are subjected to hot wire at 750° C


September 2024 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 49


IMAGE: ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS


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