Polyplastics and Ticona Launch New Heat Resistant Liquid Crystal Polymer
Ticona and Polyplastics Co., Ltd. have developed a new, more heat resistant liquid crystal polymer (LCP), and in August will launch their "Vectra® T-Series".
The Vectra® T-Series is a new family of LCP materials, with a melting temperature of 370°C. Customer evaluations of Vectra® T130 LCP, a 30% glass fiber-reinforced grade are underway.
Improved Processing and Performance
In addition to an improved heat deflection temperature, 300°C DTUL under a load of 1.8 MPa, Vectra® T130 also has mechanical properties and melt-flow characteristics comparable to those of Vectra® E130i, an LCP product well-established in the market because of its mechanical properties, flowability, and other parameters. While poor melt stability within molding machines has been a problem for some other heat resistant LCPs, Vectra® T130 offers substantial improvement which may well contribute to raising the productivity of molding processes.
Surface Mount Electronic Applications
Growing use of lead-free solders for surface mounting of electronic components, one of the main applications of LCPs, requires materials with much better temperature resistance than previously used. The new Vectra® T-Series LCPs should satisfy the requirements of electronic assemblers for versatile heat resistant performance, while providing excellent mechanical properties, flowability and melt stability, similar to the characteristics of Vectra® Ei-Series LCP materials.
Additional Vectra® T-Series Grades Being Developed
Beyond Vectra® T130, additional T-Series LCP products are being developed to offer broad variations, e.g., low warpage types, high modulus types, etc., to address even wider market requirements.
Broad, Continued Market Support
Since it was introduced to the market in 1985, Vectra® liquid crystal polymer has been used in many applications, especially in electric appliances and electronic parts. The Vectra® Ei-Series and other Vectra® LCP grades continue to enjoy a broad base of support because of their heat resistance and flowability, catering to a wide variety of uses. Vectra® LCP also is highly valued because it is environmentally friendly, and inherently flame retardant. It has a UL V0 rating without use of flame retardant additives.
Addition of this new heat resistant family, the Vectra® T-Series, to the Ticona and Polyplastics' Vectra® LCP line-up will expand the use of LCPs and, at the same time, meet the needs of users for LCPs with even higher temperature resistance than previously available.
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