SABIC Announces Portfolio Expansion with Launch of Three New Engineered LEXAN Film Products for Display, Electronics and Auto Sectors

“Now, with the introduction of the three new LEXAN film grades, our customers have an even wider range of materials from which they can choose to meet their specific requirements, from higher performance and improved cost-out to greater sustainability,” said Lennard Markestein, global film portfolio & North Asia director, Innovative Plastics. “These new materials also illustrate SABIC’s solid commitment to helping our customers’ growth and success in Asia and around the world. SABIC actively supports our Asian customers with a dedicated local team, complete supply chain support and an efficient distribution organization to ensure a steady and reliable source of our films.”



New High-functional Films Offer Greater Design Freedom



The three new high-functional LEXAN films provide new design options for IMD overlays and lenses, and are suitable for embossing and printing. LEXAN HP92TTY coated film for 2.5-dimensional formed parts delivers good chemical and abrasion resistance is embossable and requires no post-curing step. Target applications are IMD overlays for consumer electronics and automotive parts. LEXAN 6060 film for IMD overlays on 3-dimensional parts is printable and provides high gloss, light transmission and provides increased surface hardness. Applications include housings for portable electronics. LEXAN OQ8DA dual-coated sheeted film provides excellent impact performance and is printable. It can be used for lenses and keypads on electronic devices.

Flame Retardant Products for Electrical Insulation Applications



In addition to the new grades, SABIC is displaying its non-halogenated, UL-compliant

LEXAN EFR film portfolio. These environmentally responsible translucent or opaque films deliver non-brominated, non-chlorinated flame retardant performance at various gauges, enabling electrical and electronics OEMs to meet and to go beyond current environmental directives by voluntarily eliminating halogenated additives in their products while meeting the requirements of the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous substances (RoHs) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE 2006) directives.



Another highlight of the company is NORYL™ EFR735 film featuring non-halogenated flame retardance with the UL 94 V-0 compliance. This product may be used as the photovoltaic back sheet substrate by replacing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, providing superior hydrolysis stability and good lamination and adhesion properties. Additionally this product may be used in the battery spacer insulation of hybrid and electrical vehicles, providing excellent chemical resistance to corrosive electrolyte solutions in the battery case.



Enabling Advanced LED Lighting and Display Technologies



SABIC offers a wide range of LEXAN ILLUMINEX™ films with engineered random, lens and prism surface texturing. The diffuser films provide excellent hiding power, good light transmission and luminance which can be used for liquid crystal displays (LCD), handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets; automotive LED dials and HVAC panels and LED lighting applications.



LEXAN films are available in monolithic gauges up to 500 μm and provide excellent optical quality and good dimensional stability at elevated temperatures. Several of the grades are suitable for printing and can be formed in 3D shapes. LEXAN films with engineered surface textures provide a cost-effective value proposition by using a one-step melt extrusion manufacturing process with PC resin. This in combination with LEXAN film’s lower density of 15 percent less than PET and ability for recycling may provide significant cost savings compared to PET alternatives.



Investing in Global and Local Capabilities



SABIC offers mono- and multi-layer extrusion capabilities and in-line master sheeting. Through its distribution and convertor partners, the company also offers roll slitting and cut-to-size services. SABIC’s application development facilities provide lamination, folding, die cutting, screen printing, laser marking and 3D forming services to customers.



Further illustrating its commitment to Asian markets, SABIC also recently expanded LEXAN Optical Quality film production at its Nansha, China, facility with a state-of-the-art extrusion line. Subsequent capability and capacity additions in Asia are planned for the 2012-2015 period.