Pocan XHR: LANXESS unveils new generation of hydrolysis-stabilized PBT compounds

• Best results in USCAR test
• Range also includes product variant for laser transmission welding
• Highly suitable for overmolding of metal parts
• Very high long-term temperature stability even in dry environments

Cologne – Compounds based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) need greater resistance to hydrolysis and aging in hot and humid environments when used in automobiles. For instance, the high electrical power densities of high-voltage systems in electric vehicles lead to greater temperature loads. Furthermore, additional thermal loads arise when charging the battery. In combustion engines, there is a trend towards turbocharged engines, which results in increased temperatures in the engine compartment.

With this in mind, the specialty chemicals company LANXESS has developed the new PBT product range Pocan XHR (Xtreme Hydrolysis Resistance). At K 2019, the international trade show for plastics and rubber taking place in Düsseldorf from October 16 to 23, the High Performance Materials business unit will be showcasing these innovative compounds. They have achieved outstanding results in the SAE/USCAR-2 Rev. 6 long-term tests of the American Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). “In the automotive industry, these tests on the finished part are the absolute benchmark in terms of hydrolysis resistance,” explains Dr. Claudia Dähling, PBT material expert at LANXESS. “In our very strict internal specimen tests, based on the USCAR specification procedure, the new compounds achieve Class 4 or even Class 5, the two highest gradings. This makes them the material of choice for PBT components, which have to work reliably under the influence of humidity and temperature throughout their service life.”

Endurance test for PBT compounds

In the SAE/USCAR long-term tests, a finished part is exposed to temperatures from -40 °C to +175 °C (Class 5) at relative air humidities of up to 100 percent in 40 eight-hour cycles. The finished parts then undergo various function tests. The test process is extremely demanding, as heat and humidity affect aging more intensely when the two factors are combined.

Further XHR products in development

At present, there are four products in the Pocan XHR range. Pocan B3216XHR and B3233XHR have glass fiber contents of 15 and 30 percent respectively, and attain Class 5 classification. Pocan TP155-002 is specially tailored for laser transmission welding. The laser-transparent compound with a glass fiber content of 30 percent is suitable, for instance, for resource-efficient production of sophisticated housings for electrical/electronic components, and achieves results between Class 4 and 5 in the USCAR test. “Particularly interesting is the unreinforced Pocan B1205XHR, which achieves the second-highest grading in the SAE/USCAR test with Class 4. It can be processed with next to no distortion, thus enabling highly intricate geometries,” says Dähling. LANXESS is currently working on adding further product types to the Pocan XHR range.

Strong resistance to caustic soda

As well as its outstanding hydrolysis resistance, Pocan XHR has other benefits. “For example, its elongation properties and high resistance to alternating temperatures make it suitable for overmolding of metal parts that are exposed to temperature fluctuations,” Dähling relates. Further strengths are its improved chemical resistance to substances such as caustic soda, and a much greater long-term temperature stability than standard PBT types, even in dry environments.

Excellent processability

In other respects, with its properties, Pocan XHR is similar to the hydrolysis-stabilized PBT compounds in the Pocan HR series that have become established in many series production applications. In particular, the balanced processing characteristics so valued by the market have been transferred to the new XHR generation. Dähling: “For instance, the melt viscosity at injection-molding temperatures customary for PBT remains constant for longer, ensuring a reliable production process with a wide processing window.” Furthermore, flowability is up to 35 percent higher compared with PBT standard products.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.2 billion in 2018. The company currently has about 15,400 employees in 33 countries and is represented at 60 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.

Forward-Looking Statements

This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions, contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person's officers, directors or employees accept any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.

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