Ticona, one of the world`s leading manufacturers of engineering polymers, provides the appropriate plastics - a real business opportunity for IT suppliers.In recent years Greenpeace has made it their business to encourage manufacturers in the IT industry to stop using pollutants and materials harmful to health.
Those Greenpeace initiatives, new environmental protection guidelines such as RoHS and WEEE and an increasing environmental awareness among consumers are moving more and more manufacturers to search for ways to make their products more environmentally friendly. Ticona, one of the world`s leading manufacturers of engineering polymers, provides the appropriate plastics - a real business opportunity for IT suppliers.
The IT manufacturers are primarily concerned with the salability of their products through recyclability, the use of plastics that contain no unsafe materials and the voluntary elimination of the use of PVC. There have already been pioneers in the industry: Even without statutory prohibitions, Nokia, Sony and Apple have stopped using PVC and flame retardant agents that contain halogens such as chlorides or bromides.
One problem is that some of the "green" plastics previously used have a direct adverse effect on safety, offering little or no flame-retarding function. Fire statistics over the past three decades show that the increasing use of flame-retardant products has accompanied a considerable reduction in the number of fire-related deaths.
- To protect human life, property and the environment, polymer components must ensure the highest fire safety standards - insists Dr. Jürgen Troitzsch, fire protection expert based in Wiesbaden, Germany. Ticona offers proof that manufacturers need not compromise in the production of "green" electronic devices. Under the Ticona Green Electronics quality seal, Ticona presents innovative plastics that are environmentally friendly and flame-retardant at the same time.
The liquid crystalline polymer Vectra LCP meets the basic requirements for Green Electronics. This polymer doesn`t need any additional flame retardant agents such as halogens. It is inherently (without additives)flame-retardant and withstands continuous exposure to temperatures of up to 240°C and short-term exposure to temperatures of up to 360°C.
Vectra LCP contains no heavy metals, chlorides or bromides, thereby making it possible to produce electronic components in an environmentally friendly, safe and physiologically safe manner.
Moreover, this high-performance plastic is completely recyclable and its UL 94 V-0 approval means it is also completely safe for use in the USA and Canada. According to Dr. Alexandra Jacobs-Hattwig, Technical Marketing at Ticona: - I know of no other polymers in this price class that combines these unique advantages like Vectra - "green" and safe.
In terms of production costs LCP is also extremely attractive for the E/Eindustry. Its combination of low melt viscosity and high impact resistance makes it possible to create very thin-walled connectors. This, in turn, permits materials savings and further miniaturizations. Shorter production times are possible thanks to its very low heat of fusion.
These many advantages combine to make E/E components not only safe and "green", but also competitive: Ideal conditions for manufacturing notebooks, cell phones and flat screens - especially for connectors, chip sockets and memory cards. For special electrical applications, e.g. lamp fixtures, Ticona also offers other plastic solutions under the "Ticona Green Electronics" seal.
The newly developed Ticona Green Electronics quality seal stands for ecofriendly and safe products that contain no halogens or heavy metals. The "environmental protection" and "safety" aspects are symbolized by the two-part leaf in the quality seal.
The liquid crystalline polymer Vectra LCP is superior to other high-temperature polymers in terms of precision, strength and insulation properties. The various grades offer a range of melting points, temperature resistance, stiffness and flow ability.
As the basic polymers can be compounded with a vast array of fillers and reinforcing materials, they can be tailored for virtually any application area. And Vectra LCP also scores high marks for cost-reduction with one of its unique product properties: It can be used to produce extremely thin-walled components.
