When using Stanyl in E&E applications one of the main functions is electrical insulation. The insulating power of a thermoplastic can be expressed in several ways:

• The material conducts current homogeneously, through the bulk or via the surface
  Related properties: volume resistivity and dielectric strength
• The material breaks down and conducting paths are formed through the bulk
  Related properties: breakdown voltage and dielectric strength
• The surface is degraded gradually by the electric field, arcing and/or contamination, and conducting paths are formed in the surface
  Related properties: arc resistance, high voltage tracking rate and comparative tracking index
• Also heat formation, caused by above phenomena (or by other electrical sources) may ignite the material
  Related properties: hot wire ignition and high-ampere arc ignition
  
• The combination of metal, insulating material, moisture and contaminants may cause special chemical and physical degradation processes
  Related properties: electrolytic corrosion
  

• Effects of alternating current are polarization (loss of current and electronic signal noise), related to the dielectric constant and dissipation of energy (temperature rise), related to dissipation factor or loss index.

The exact levels of the electrical properties mentioned above depend on the specific grade, temperature, and moisture content. In general these properties are sufficiently retained at elevated temperatures to fulfill critical application requirements. Detailed information is available in the product databaseor the ULweb site.

In addition, Stanyl offers low and stable values for dielectric constants at high frequencies which is key in designing today's IT connectors. Moisture uptake may increase the dielectric constant, however this effect is only seen at low frequencies and not at the high frequencies typically encountered in current or future IT equipment (see graph below). DSM has developed a Stanyl portfolio combining excellent performance for E&E applications with outstanding long-term performance, including several High Flowgrades.