DSM Engineering Plastics has announced that the company is now able to offer a full range of halogen free engineering plastics for the production of RAST connectors in the white goods industry.
The development of these products is in line with latest market trends and requirements for halogen free flame retardant insulation materials able to meet the highest safety standards.
Yannick Chardebas, Segment Manager E&E for DSM Engineering Plastics, says: “The development of this portfolio demonstrates our strong commitment to our OEM and tier1 customers in the white goods industry. At the same time, it also opens the path towards halogen free electronics outside the traditional ICT industry.”
Patrick Duis, Application Development Engineer Connectors for DSM Engineering Plastics adds: "As the first company to offer such a full portfolio, DSM is now able to support customers in the white goods industry as a one stop shop, offering solutions for standard pin through hole and the latest development of SMT (Surface Mount Technology) connectors."
Recently DSM Engineering Plastics was recognized as one of seven leading solutions providers who have engineered environmental solutions that negate the need for most - or in some cases all - uses of brominated and chlorinated chemicals in a report issued by the International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec) and US based environmental organization Clean Production Action (CPA).
Full portfolio of HF materials
DSM is now able to offer a complete portfolio of halogen free products specifically for the White Goods market. This portfolio already includes Arnite® T XG510 (PBT); and Stanyl® ForTii™ (PA4T) F11 for SMT applications, and it is now completed with the addition of Akulon® (PA6) K225-KV.
The unique properties of all these grades allow OEMs and Tier 1s to produce high performance and safer connectors for white goods applications and to meet the most stringent specifications while being halogen free.
All these materials are designed for connectors in unattended appliances, meeting the requirements as specified in IEC 60335-1. This standard describes the test procedures required for unattended household appliances such as washing machines, dryers and dishwashers, which operate under high currents (> 0,2A). They include the GWFI 850°C (IEC 60695-2-12), the GWIT 775 °C (IEC 60695-2-13) and the glow wire end product test of 750°C (IEC 60695-2-11 GWT). The GWT of 750°C has an extinguishing time of less then 2 seconds on assembled parts.
Akulon K225-KV is an engineering Polyamide 6 able to meet the demand from the white good market with respect to the IEC 60335-1: passing the glow wire test on end products at 750°C. Akulon K225-KV is Halogen free V-2. The material has excellent hinge properties and very good GWIT and GWFI values, High CTI (575V) and is specifically designed for the production of RAST connectors.
Arnite T XG510 PBT has received VDE Approval for electrical insulating materials. This new grade is particularly suited for components like connectors in white goods applications, such as washing machines, dryers and dishwashers. Arnite T XG510 is revolutionary because it is the first unfilled PBT which has tested positively according to GWFI & GWIT on end products. The lower density of halogeen free PBT, compared with halogen containing PBTs, saves material, cost and weight. This results in safe and high quality end products and contributes to a better environment. Moreover, PBT has a better dimensional stability compared to polyamides.
Stanyl ForTii is an entirely new high performance polymer family. It offers a unique balance of properties including excellent dimensional stability, high stiffness and mechanical strength at elevated temperatures, high melting and glass transition point as well as excellent processability in terms of flow and processing window. Unique properties of Stanyl ForTii include its excellent reflow soldering ability, which is better than PPA, very high pin retention values which are better than LCPs, stable and fast processing, very good electrical properties (CTI 600V), low moisture uptake and proven lower corrosion on molding equipment compared with competitive products. The ForTii F11 grade has received VDE Approval for electrical insulating materials.
Please follow the link below to a recent article by Bishop & Associates Inc. This gives a comprehensive overview of various RAST applications and makes specific reference to Stanyl ForTii in the first surface mount RAST connectors globally. The use of Stanyl ForTii allows RAST connectors to be soldered to the board using lead-free reflow soldering, reducing assembly time, whilst omitting PCB hole drilling, thus reducing cost.
http://www.connectorsupplier.com/tech_updates_LN_RAST_11-17-09.htm
