DSM ENGINEERING PLASTICS ANNOUNCES NEW FOCUS ON WIRE & CABLE WITH ARNITEL® TPE ELASTOMERS

New initiatives in wire & cable coating materials are announced by DSM Engineering Plastics, a business group within the DSM N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam:DSM) Performance Materials cluster. In addition to its existing family of Arnitel® copolyether-ester and copolyester-ester (COPE or TEEE) elastomeric wire coating materials, DSM is developing new grades for this segment. As well, the assignment of Francis Aussems as Application Development and Technical Service Manager with special focus on wire applications provides a dedicated resource to the wire and cable segment.

A broad selection of Arnitel TPE elastomer grades from DSM provides options for a variety of applications where temperature range, long-term heat resistance and flexibility are important.

Aussems brings to his new focus 15 of years experience in technical development within DSM. His extensive background in automotive, appliance, industrial and general wiring requirements, combined with solid technical grounding in elastomers, helps ensure effective collaboration with producers.

“DSM have always approached customer needs with an eye on successful applications,” Aussems said. “DSM’s special applications, special formulations, and ongoing technical and production support are all designed to help wire and cable producers keep their customers happy.”

Attributes and Applications

Arnitel U grades provide temperature resistance of 3000 hours at 160 °C, with peak temperatures up to 200 °C, and is often specified for robotic, electric motor and similar applications. Arnitel P grades exhibit good flexibility at low temperatures—as low as -40 °C. Arnitel E grades meet food and medical contact standards, ideal for medical robotics and food applications.

Master batches can be used not only for colour but also for enhanced resistance to UV, heat and hydrolysis, as well as flame retardancy including halogen free systems. Arnitel provides superior resistance to repetitive deformation and fatigue, especially important in robotics. The material, available in a wide range of modulus and viscosity levels, shows good chemical resistance to oils, other hydrocarbons and most chemicals used in cars and industry. Its good electrical properties ensure outstanding dielectric behaviours. Finally, processing of Arnitel grades is measurably easier than with TPUs or fluoroelastomers.

Reader enquiries

DSM Engineering Plastics
Poststraat 1
6130 AA Sittard
Netherlands
+31 46 477 0496
www.dsmep.com

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Notes for editors

DSM Engineering Plastics

DSM Engineering Plastics is a business group forming part of DSM's Performance Materials cluster. DSM EP is a global supplier of Stanyl® PA46 and Akulon® 6 and 66 polyamides, Arnitel® TPE-E, Arnite® PBT and PET polyesters, Xantar® polycarbonate, Yparex® extrudable adhesive resins, and Stamylan® UH Ultra High Molecular Weight PE. These materials are used in technical components for electrical appliances, electronic equipment and cars, in barrier packaging films as well as in many mechanical and extrusion applications. The business group had annual sales of EUR 566 million in 2003. With Stanyl®, it is the global market leader in high heat polyamides.

Akulon®, Arnite®, Arnitel®, Stanyl®, Stamylan® UH, Xantar® and Yparex® are registered trademarks of DSM Engineering Plastics.