Envalior refines its portfolio of highly tracking-resistant PBT compounds in the Pocan® E series

• New PBT compound is reinforced with 30 percent short glass fibers by weight and is suitable for applications in e-mobility, connectors, and miniaturized components.
• Entire Pocan® E range demonstrates high tracking resistance of 600 (CTI A).
• Wide range of glass fiber-reinforced and hydrolysis-stabilized material variants.
• Envalior presents Pocan® E at Fakuma 2024, October 15 to 19, at Friedrichshafen Exhibition Center. You can find Envalior in Hall B4, Booth 4302.

Düsseldorf, October 15, 2024 – Envalior has responded to these trends by expanding its selection of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) compounds with a special series of highly tracking-resistant materials. This Pocan® E product range has now been expanded and improved.

A new addition is Pocan® B3235E, a compound reinforced with 30 percent short glass fibers by weight. Like the other products, it shows outstanding tracking resistance, achieving the top rating of 600 in the CTI A test. Additionally, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. has confirmed the CTI values of Envalior’s entire Pocan® E product range according to IEC 60112 for natural, black, and orange material grades.

“This gives us a strong position in the market because PBT compounds with such high tracking resistance are rare,” explains Lucas Lichius, Global Product Manager for PBT. Pocan® E will be one of Envalior’s key focus areas at Fakuma 2024 in Friedrichshafen.

CTI A of 600 even for black grades

Tracking resistance describes how well a material withstands the formation of conductive pathways on its surface at high voltages, also known as tracking. The higher the tracking resistance, the lowerthe risk of short circuits and equipment defects. The most commonly used indicator of tracking resistance is the Comparative Tracking Index (CTI). Glass fiber-reinforced PBT compounds and black PBT compounds are more susceptible to forming electrically conductive paths.

"By using special additive packages, we have succeeded in changing the surface properties of the thermoplastics to minimize this susceptibility. This means all of our Pocan® E grades achieve a CTI A rating of 600, even in orange and black. This is a particular highlight of our product range," Lichius continues.

Although the rating applies to a test voltage of 600 V, this does not mean the plastics cannot also be used at higher voltages. Using design guidelines in accordance with the IEC 60664/VDE 0110-1 standard, it is possible to "translate" the CTI test result accordingly and modify the component design for higher voltages. Lichius explains: "This is why Pocan® E can also withstand significantly higher-rated voltages of up to 1,500 volts, such as those used in rapid charging stations for electric vehicles."

Improved flowability and extremely good mechanical properties

The new Pocan® B3235E contains 30 percent short glass fibers by weight. It completes the range of exclusively glass fiber-reinforced E products, which are available in reinforcements of 10, 16 and 20 percent by weight. The new compound is also designed with improved flowability compared with its standard PBT counterpart and boasts extremely good mechanical properties.

Outstanding results in SAE/USCAR hydrolysis tests

One special feature of the Pocan® E portfolio is that the compounds not only offer high tracking resistance, but other properties and strengths that are important for electrical and electronic components – such as very good melt flow and excellent hydrolysis resistance. For example, two highly hydrolysis-resistant compounds are available: Pocan® B3233HRE and B3216XHRE. In tests based on the stringent long-term hydrolysis tests from the US Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE/USCAR-2 Rev. 7), test specimens of these materials achieve a good Class 4 classification and the best Class 5 rating, respectively.

Raw materials from sustainable sources

Sustainable versions of the E series based on PCR (post-consumer recycled) and/or PIR (post-industrial recycled) raw materials are currently in a very advanced stage of development. The mass-balanced Pocan® ECO B3235E, which contains 30 percent glass fiber reinforcement by weight, is already available for order. The potential uses for the sustainable E products are the same as for the conventional E grades.

About Envalior

Envalior is a global leader in Engineering Materials with over 4,000 employees worldwide. It was established in 2023 through the merger of Lanxess Performance Materials and DSM Engineering Materials. With a long track record of customer-driven innovation, Envalior specializes in developing sustainable and high-performance material solutions. Focus markets include Automotive, New Mobility, Electronics & Electrical, and Consumer Goods. For more information, visit www.envalior.com.

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