In the article “Top 10 Technology Trends: Lightweighting innovations take center stage”, we introduced material innovations in high-strength and high-toughness lightweighting from several companies. 

This article continues to explore innovations in the "Top Ten Technology Trends in Plastics and Rubber in 2025". with focus on skin-friendly surface and fluorine-free/halogen-free flame retardants (FRs).

Skin-friendly surface 

From automotive interiors to home appliances and consumer electronics, products must not only look premium but also feel pleasant to the touch. Tactile optimization can provide brands with "sensory premiumization," attracting consumers to purchase.

Driven by this demand, skin-friendly materials have emerged. Elkem Silicones' low-density, low-friction silicone rubber and LG Chem’s matte-grade ABS achieve skin-friendly textures through different material processes, enhancing user experience. 

∎ Elkem Silicones 

Technology: Low-density, low-friction solid silicone rubber BLUESIL™ LDH 5133-XY A3 

Applications: Automotive, consumer electronics 

BLUESIL™ LDH 5133-XY A3 is a low-density, low-friction silicone rubber with a density of 0.78-0.85 g/cm³, ensuring lightweight properties. Its dynamic and static friction coefficients range between 0.1-0.25, delivering an exceptional tactile feel. Suitable for molding and extrusion, it can also be blended with other silicone rubbers to reduce density and friction coefficients while enhancing texture.

The milky-white material can be easily colored and features low VOC emissions, improving both environmental sustainability and processing efficiency by reducing secondary vulcanization time. 

Elkem Silicones’ low-density, low-friction solid silicone rubber BLUESIL™ LDH 5133-XY A3. 

∎ LG Chem   

CHINAPLAS 2025 Booth：17F61 

Technology: Matte-grade ABS 

Applications: Home appliances, consumer electronics 

LG Chem’s matte-grade ABS enables high-end matte textures in final injection-molded products even when glossy molds are used, with gloss levels maintained at 10-20º. Compared to glossy ABS, matte ABS offers a skin-like feel, earning it the name "skin-friendly ABS." It is primarily used in premium home appliance exteriors and has been widely adopted by leading global appliance manufacturers. 

LG Chem’s matte-grade ABS. 

Fluorine-free/halogen-free flame retardants 

Driven by stricter global environmental safety regulations and emerging industry technologies, the flame-retardant modification of polymer is shifting toward fluorine-free (PFAS-free) and halogen-free solutions. 

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), used as polymer modifiers to enhance flame retardancy, persist in the environment and pose health risks. Starting from 2024, countries like the U.S., Canada, Germany, and France have banned or restricted PFAS, prompting the shift toward PFAS-free flame-retardant engineering plastics. 

Beyond PFAS-free, halogen-free flame retardants reduce toxicity and smoke, improving fire escape rates and meeting global green supply chain standards. They are increasingly critical in high-voltage platforms for new energy vehicles. 

Three companies—Kingfa, LG Chem, and Inovia Materials—submitted PFAS-free flame-retardant solutions. Meanwhile, VANTEQUE, GEON, and Yulong Technology presented halogen-free flame-retardant technologies. These materials excel in performance and composition to meet diverse application needs. 

∎ Kingfa Sci.&Tech.

CHINAPLAS 2025 Booth：17D101 

Technology: PFAS-free ultra-thin flame-retardant high-performance PC material 

Applications: Automotive, consumer electronics, home appliances 

According to Kingfa, KINGFA PC-FNT127B2 is the world’s first PFAS-free flame-retardant PC material achieving UL94 V-0 at 0.8mm thickness. It balances high toughness (ASTM notched impact strength >800 J/m), high heat resistance (passes 125°C ball pressure test), and high processability (MFR >13 g/10min at 300°C/1.2kg). 

Kingfa Technology’s PFAS-free ultra-thin flame-retardant high-performance PC material. 

∎ LG Chem

CHINAPLAS 2025 Booth：17F61 

Technology：PFAS-free flame-retardant PC/ABS (recycled material PCR can be added) 

Applications: Automotive, consumer electronics, home appliances 

LG Chem’s proprietary flame-retardant technology achieves equivalent performance without PFAS. With over 50% PCR content, it reduces carbon emissions by about 46% compared to virgin materials. Apart from PFAS-free PC/ABS, which is UL 94 V-0 certified. LG Chem is also developing other PFAS-free materials, including UL-certified PC and PBT. 

LG Chem’s PFAS-free flame-retardant PC/ABS (recycled material PCR can be added). 

∎ Inovia Materials 

CHINAPLAS 2025 Booth：18G41

Technology: PFAS-free PC flame retardant 

Applications: Automotive, consumer electronics, home appliances 

Inovia’s halogen-free PC flame retardant achieves UL94 V-0 at 0.005-1.6mm without PTFE, while maintaining thermal and mechanical properties. It has been industrialized by a global PC manufacturer. 

DR-S15 contains phosphorus and sulfur flame-retardant elements. At around 3% loading, it enables transparent and flame-retardant V0/VTM0 PC films or sheets for electronic displays. DR-M878 produces white flame-retardant V0 PC films/sheets. 

Inovia Materials’ PFAS-free PC flame retardant. 

∎ VANTEQUE 

Technology: Halogen-free flame-retardant semi-aromatic polyamide with thermal shock resistance 

Applications: Automotive, wires and cables 

VANTEQUE’s halogen-free flame-retardant semi-aromatic polyamide with thermal shock resistance offers CTI ≥1000V, stable electrical properties after long-term aging at high temperatures, and ultra-low linear expansion. It passes 2000h thermal shock tests (-40~150°C), addressing industry pain points of thermal shock cracking, making it suitable for high-voltage busbars in NEVs. 

VANTEQUE’s halogen-free flame-retardant semi-aromatic polyamide with thermal shock resistance. 

∎ GEON Performance Solutions 

CHINAPLAS 2025 Booth：17P41

Technology: GEON® CMP-Flame-Retardant PVC cable material 

Applications: Wires and cables 

GEON® CMP-grade PVC meets Plenum cable’s requirements for flame retardancy and low smoke. UL-certified, it suits Cat 3–6 multi-conductor cables (75°C rating, UL 444 compliant). Custom solutions for enhanced performance to meet the needs of flame retardant and smoke suppression, as well as pre-colored options are available. 

GEON® CMP-Flame-Retardant PVC cable material is suitable for wires and cables applications.

∎ Yulong Technology

CHINAPLAS 2025 Booth：13A23

Technology: Halogen-free PP flame-retardant masterbatch PY-3008M 

Applications: Films, fibers 

PY-3008M offers high heat and UV resistance, as well as stable flame retardancy for demanding film and fiber applications. Free of halogens and melamine, it is a new type of flame retardant that fully complies with EU regulations.

Yulong Technology’s halogen-free PP flame-retardant masterbatch PY-3008M 

CHINAPLAS 2025

Notably, most participating companies will have presence at CHINAPLAS 2025 where more innovations will be showcased on site. Readers are welcome to visit CHINAPLAS 2025 to explore more.