Cables for electric vehicle chargers are a challenging application because they need to be abrasion resistant, resilient, and tough even at very low temperatures, yet cost-effective for large-volume production.
Teknor Apex has a growing portfolio of compounds for EV charger cables that meet demanding performance requirements while providing a less expensive alternative to premium materials like thermoplastic polyurethane.
The latest addition to this suite of products is Flexalloy® 9612-75, a 75 Shore A jacket compound that complies with the -40 ºC Cold Impact test requirement specified in CSA standards.It exhibits a low-temperature brittleness value of < -60 ºC; tensile strength of 2,645 psi (18.2 MPa); and elongation of 390%, as well as complies with UL-62 oil resistance requirement.
Other compounds in the Flexalloy series include:
- Flexalloy® 9610-78, an economical general-purpose product that can pass the UL Cold Bend test at -40 ºC
- Flexalloy® 9605-65 which is an even more flexible jacket compound, the 65 Shore A product capable of passing the UL Cold Bend test at -60 ºC
- For insulation of EV cables, Teknor Apex offers Flexalloy® 89504-90 as well as a more flame retardant version, Flexalloy® 89504-90FR; both are 90 Shore A compounds
All of these materials can meet requirements for a maximum continuous operating temperature of 105 ºC.
What makes these compounds rugged? Unlike standard flexible PVC, Flexalloy compounds are based on ultra-high molecular weight PVC resin. They exhibit improved toughness, abrasion resistance, and low temperature properties and provide elastomeric resilience and resistance to compression set. The compounds can be processed on standard PVC equipment.
