SABIC Launches Sustainable Valox* ENH Resins for E/E Applications

The expansion of the Valox ENH resin family is the result of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ ongoing focus to provide an ever-broadening portfolio of validated, sustainable materials to customers.

“Environmental regulations and guidelines regarding acceptable flame-retardant chemicals for the electrical and electronics industry are continuing to tighten,” said Jos Braat, global product market director, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “Our dynamic R&D program focused on sustainable solutions continues to yield technological breakthroughs. Our new Valox ENH grades are just the latest deliverables in a strategic effort to evolve our flame-retardant plastics portfolio to be in line with global regulations and voluntary eco-labels that are important to our customers’ growth.”

Valox ENH Resins Surpass Brominated and Non-Brominated Competitors

Reducing halogen content in flame-retardant polybutylene terepthalate (PBT) is a challenge because substituting a non-brominated, non-chlorinated FR chemistry usually degrades mechanical performance. But SABIC Innovative Plastics’ highly experienced scientific and technical team achieved this goal. The three new Valox ENH PBT resin grades, with different glass reinforcement levels, not only utilize non-brominated and non-chlorinated FR technology but also provide a better balance of high-performance properties than competitive non-brominated FR PBT resins. They deliver excellent elongation, chemical resistance and impact, and actually offer better electrical and flammability performance than brominated FR grades. Overall, they provide a better balance of properties than other non-brominated FR PBT resins.

The new Valox ENH resin grades are:

• Valox ENH 3500 PBT resin, unfilled
• Valox ENH 4530 PBT resin, 15 percent glass fiber reinforced
• Valox ENH 4560 PBT resin, 30 percent glass fiber reinforced

The three new Valox ENH resins meet the UL94 V0 standard at 0.8mm. With a comparative tracking index (CTI) of 500 volts for Valox ENH 4530 resin and a CTI of 600 volts for Valox ENH 3500 and Valox ENH 4560 resins, these grades far surpass the CTI performance of standard glass-filled brominated PBT, which is typically around 200 volts.

These unfilled and glass-filled grades have potential for use in electric cooling fans, relays, connectors, switches and fuser applications in printers.

Adding Another Dimension of Sustainability

To make applications even more sustainable, Valox ENH resin grades can be enhanced by combining them with other SABIC Innovative Plastics PBT technologies, particularly Valox iQ* resins. This iQ technology is referred to as “upcycled technology” because it incorporates high levels of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into PBT resin through a proprietary chemical process. Upcycling not only diverts waste from landfills but also reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy usage when producing PBT resin. Valox iQ NH 4550 is made from upcycled post consumer PET and is currently in SABIC innovative Plastics’ product portfolio.

The addition of the new materials increases the Valox ENH resin portfolio to five commercial grades applicable to many different E/E applications currently made of brominated FR PBT and/or PET. SABIC Innovative Plastics is also planning to launch PBT/PET alloys within the Valox ENH resin family by the end of this year.