19 Jun 2007
GE Targets Environmental Regulations Compliance with New FR Non-Chlorinated, Non-Brominated Valox* ENH Resins
BERGEN OP ZOOM, THE NETHERLANDS — June 19, 2007 — GE Plastics today introduced a new family of flame-retardant Valox* thermoplastic polyester resins aimed at helping electrical/electronics (E/E) manufacturers and suppliers comply with regulations restricting use and disposal of hazardous substances. Further, Valox ENH resin - an environmentally progressive resin that meets the requirements for halogen-free parts - is based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), delivering better ductility and strength than other environmentally responsible flame-retardant PBT materials, and better electrical properties than standard flame-retardant PBT materials.
The European Union’s (EU) Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive restricts the use of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), as well as other hazardous substances. The Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE) directive requires OEMs and suppliers to remove plastic containing brominated flame retardants and treat it separately at end of life. There are widespread concerns about the release of corrosive and/or toxic gases from brominated flame retardants during a fire. GE’s Valox ENH resins offer best-in-class flame retardance without the use of brominated or chlorinated additives, meeting the requirements of these and other environmental regulations.
“The development of this new Valox resin family is the result of our strong focus on environmentally responsible materials, particularly for the E/E industry,” said Estelle Cheret, GE Plastics’ global Valox resin platform product manager. “In addition to helping customers meet current regulations covering brominated additives, we eliminated chlorine from Valox ENH resin products in anticipation of future restrictions. GE’s ecomagination* initiative continues to produce innovative solutions that support environmental protection while helping our customers deliver competitive products.”
The first product in the Valox ENH resin family is ENH4550, a 25 percent glass-filled grade that will be commercially available in Q3 2007. In addition to providing flame retardance that meets the UL94 V0 standard at 0.8 mm, Valox ENH4550 resins will deliver excellent mechanical properties. Improved ductility and strength mean fewer rejects during assembly and reduced breakage during use.
GE Plastics new Valox ENH resin has a CTI (comparative tracking index) – the behavior upon short circuiting or overheating – of 325 volts compared to 200 volts for standard glass-filled PBT. The GE material also surpasses standard PBT in GWIT (glow wire ignition temperature) performance, which measures the effect of heat from malfunctioning electrical equipment to determine at what temperature a material will ignite. Valox ENH resins have a GWIT of 775 °C at 3mm vs. 700 °C for standard glass-filled PBT grades.
This new material is a good candidate for such applications as electrical connectors, relays, lamp sockets, and consumer appliances.
Another exciting possibility is combining this new non-brominated, non-chlorinated flame retardant technology with GE Plastics’ existing Valox iQ* resin, which would provide a full environmentally responsible solution for customers. Valox iQ resins are derived from 85 percent post-consumer waste, they consume less energy and yield less carbon dioxide (CO2) in their manufacturing than traditional resins. Non-brominated, non-chlorinated flame retardant technology helps customers comply with WEEE and other environmental regulations. This product will be commercially available in Q3 2007.
For more information on GE’s Valox resins, please visit the GE Plastics’ website at www.geplastics.com
Reader enquiries
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+31 164 29 20 97
Helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com
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Notes for editors
About GE Plastics
GE Plastics (www.geplastics.com) is a global supplier of plastic resins widely used in automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, performance packaging, building & construction, telecommunications, and optical media applications. The company manufactures and compounds polycarbonate, ABS, SAN, ASA, PPE, PC/ABS, PBT and PEI resins, as well as the LNP* line of high-performance specialty compounds. GE Plastics, Specialty Film & Sheet manufactures high-performance Lexan* sheet and film products used in thousands of demanding applications worldwide. In addition, GE Plastics’ dedicated Automotive organization is an experienced, world-wide competitor, offering leading plastics solutions for five key automotive segments: body panels and glazing; under the hood applications; component; structures and interiors; and lighting. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games.
* Valox, ecomagination, Valox iQ, LNP, and Lexan are trademarks of General Electric Company.
