Solvay's PARA resin receives UL 94 V0 rating for E&E applications

According to its press release on February 29, Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC's Ixef 1524 polyarylamide (PARA) resin has received Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 94 V0 rating for electrical & electronics (E&E) applications at 0.4mm and above thicknesses for all colors.

Solvay states that the halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) material serves as a replacement for halogen-based flame-retardant products like glass-filled polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) as well as metals like aluminum and magnesium. It is an addition to the company's high-performance nylons range which includes Ixef 1622 and Kalix 9950, two products that are UL 94 HB-rated down to 0.6mm.

"The UL rating positions us to meet the supply needs of customers in the E&E industry who require a non-halogenated material solution," according to Vincent Meunier, Ixef PARA Product Manager for Solvay Specialty Polymers.

The company says the 50% glass-filled material is targeted for injection molded covers, internal frames, and other structural components of mobile electronic devices including media tablets, notebooks, and ultrabooks.

Solvay adds that the unique set of properties of Ixef 1524 achieves robust flame-resistant performance with nice surface finish. The high-flow resin also permits the molding of highly complex and detailed thin-wall parts that can be painted. Structural parts made from Ixef compounds can be simultaneously thin, rigid, strong, and dimensionally stable.

The tensile strength of Ixef compounds is similar to many cast metals and alloys at ambient temperature, notes Solvay. Ixef 1524 has a tensile modulus up to 20GPa (2,900kpsi) at 23～C (73～F). It has a Comparative Tracking Index (CTI) of 600 volts and a Glow Wire Flammability Index (GWFI) of 960～C (1760～F).