RoHS-COMPLIANT TPEs PROVIDE WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGE FOR OUTDOOR, INDUSTRIAL, APPLIANCE, AND AUTOMOTIVE WIRE AND CABLE

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Brittleness Points of Rubber-Like Elexar (R) Compounds Range as Low as -100 °C; UL-Rated Continuous Operating Temperatures, as High as 125 °C.

PAWTUCKET, RI, U.S.A., March 13, 2007: The entire range of Elexar (R) thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds for wire and cable is currently available in RoHS-compliant formulations for end uses requiring rubber-like flexibility, toughness over a wide range of temperatures, and flexibility even under very cold outdoor conditions, it was announced today by the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex.

The new compounds provide the same cost-performance options as standard Elexar products and, like them, are styrene block copolymers that surpass many standard TPEs in electrical properties, according to Phil Scadding, wire and cable market manager. Brittleness points range from -60 to -100 °C., depending on grade, and ratings for maximum continuous operating temperature as defined in UL-1581 range from 105 to 125 °C. Because the specific gravity of Elexar TPEs typically is well below those of standard flexible vinyl compounds used in wire and cable, they yield lighter-weight end products.

Recommended applications for RoHS-compliant Elexar compounds include insulation, jacketing, and molded plugs and connectors for outdoor devices, power tools, industrial robots, welding equipment, submersible pumps, automotive wiring and batteries, appliance wiring, entertainment audio and lighting systems, and other demanding uses.

Elexar wire and cable compounds have typical dielectric strength of 600-900 V/mil and dielectric constant of 2.1-2.4. Many of the grades are UL recognized, meeting the requirements for outdoor weathering UV resistance and passing the UL seven-day 60 °C oil resistance tests. They are available in standard and custom formulations, in natural form and in Munsell®, NEMA, other standard, or specially-matched colors. Identical formulations are available from plants in the U.S.A., UK, and Singapore and will soon be available from a plant in China as well.

A representative compound is Elexar EL-8431, which can be used for both insulation and jacketing. In standard tests it exhibits a Shore A hardness of 69, specific gravity of 0.93, tensile strength of 2,870 psi (19.8 MPa), ultimate elongation of 650%, maximum continuous operating temperature of 105 °C., oxygen index of 18%, and brittle point of -100 °C.