Connectors

Connectors are used in many applications that require flame retardancy, such as computers, telecommunications, automotive parts and appliances. Most connectors are made of Polyamide (PA) or Polybutylene Terephtalate (PBT). V-0 is a common flammability standard applied to connectors but other standards such as glow wire are also specified for appliances. Flammability requirements vary by application, rather than resin. For the most part, there are two types of electrical connectors that possess different requirements:

Large Connectors

For FR large connectors made of Polyamide, you won’t find better cost-performance flame retardants than SAYTEX® HP-7010 or PYRO-CHEK® 68PB.

HP-7010 can withstand high processing temperatures. Resins containing HP-7010 can survive multiple-regrinds and molding cycles. It’s non-volatile, has low corrosion, and imparts excellent resin flow and moldability. 68PB possesses excellent dispersibility and molding performance. Because both additives are polymeric, they prevent migration and blooming in compounded resins. Good thermal stability and low Tg permits melt blending in most engineering resin systems but these products are not recommended for high temperature polyamides which will require HP-3010.

For halogen-free compounds, we suggest MAGNIFIN® flame retardants. MAGNIFIN products are the only additive that allows compounders to achieve UL94 v-0 flame retardancy and the highest comparative tracking index (CTI) value of 600 V in a glass fiber-reinforced formulation which can be made in all colors. (CTI is an important measure of a material's surface electrical resistance.)

PA 6 compounds made with surface-modified MAGNIFIN H-5 IV flame retardant pass the glow-wire test at 960° and achieve glow-wire ignition temperature of 775° (in accordance with IEC60695-2-12 and -13, respectively). And all MAGNIFIN products also ensure extremely low levels of smoke density.

Thin-walled Connectors

One major trend in the electrical industry is to produce complex connectors with thin-wall parts, which requires resins with high flow and excellent thermal stability Flame retardants are typically added to the formulation because of safety and regulation concerns. Like any additives, however, flame retardants can cause problems with processing and lead to flow issues with the resin, off gassing and discoloration.

To help compounders avoid these processing problems, we created SAYTEX HP-3010 flame retardant for polyamides (PA) which imparts high flow, excellent thermal and color stability with low off gassing even at very high molding temperatures. SAYTEX PBT-620 flame retardant was developed for polybutylene terephtalate (PBT) to address similar problems.

Product		Composition	Platform	Synergist	Physical form	Contact us
SAYTEX® HP-3010		Brominated polystyrene	Bromine	ATO	Pellets
SAYTEX® PBT-620		Brominated polystyrene-polyester resin blend	Bromine	ATO	Pellets
SAYTEX® HP-7010 P		Brominated polystyrene	Bromine	ATO	Powder
SAYTEX® HP-7010 G		Brominated polystyrene	Bromine	ATO	Granules
SAYTEX® HP-7775		Brominated polystyrene-antimony trioxide blend	Bromine		Powder
PYRO-CHEK® 68PB		Brominated polystyrene	Bromine	ATO	Powder
PYRO-CHEK® 68PBC		Brominated polystyrene	Bromine	ATO	Granules
MAGNIFIN® H-5 IV		Magnesium dihydroxide	Mineral	None	Powder
MAGNIFIN® H-10 IV		Magnesium dihydroxide	Mineral	None	Powder