Teknor Color Introduces First Standard Heavy Metal-Free Colors for Auto Wiring

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Automotive manufacturers seeking to eliminate heavy metals in vinyl wire insulation and jacketing can now specify off-the-shelf colorants that are free of these substances, it was announced today by Teknor Color Company during Wire & Cable Focus '97. The concentrate supplier is the first to offer a regular line of heavy metal-free colors that meet the J-1128 standard of the Soci ety of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

"Our new color concentrates address the auto industry's concern about the environmental impact of its vehicles," said Brian Houts, Manager of Marketing. "With total wiring in today's car at an average of 4000 feet and growing, this development makes p ossible a significant reduction in the heavy-metal content of scrap from electrical and electronic systems."

The auto-industry has already taken steps to eliminate heavy metals in the compounds used for wire insulation, Houts noted. "The color concentrates added to these compounds are the next step in the process."

Tradenamed TEKlite, the new line of concentrates includes all 14 colors in the SAE standard: white, black, red, orange, light green, dark green, light blue, dark blue, brown, tan, pink, purple, gray, and yellow. The concentrates are formulated for use a t loadings in the 1 to 2% range.

Teknor Color Company will also offer a heavy metal-free option for its line of colors used with crosslinked polyethylene compounds, Houts said.