Keren Sall 
PRW
Published: November 18, 2014 6:00 am ET
Updated: November 18, 2014 9:26 am ET

Image By: Bayer MaterialScience
Bayer MaterialScience says improvements on its Bayblend materials offer good alternative to standard polycarbonate.

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, GERMANY — Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) introduced a further development on the back of the 3000 flame-retardant polycarbonate blends it introduced in 2005.

“The Bayblend FR4000 series material targets applications where high thermal stability and resistance to weathering are important,” said Mathieu Jung, a material expert at BMS. “In terms of fire resistance, these products are superior to conventional polycarbonate/ABS blends and in many cases provide a particularly environmentally friendly alternative.”

Bayer claims the outstanding fire resistance of the new product series is proven by tests showing glow wire flammability according to IEC 60695-2-12 (Glow Wire Flammability Index, GWFI). This test examines how quickly a material sample set alight using a glow wire self-extinguishes. Grades of the Bayblend FR4000 material meet the requirements at the maximum glow wire temperature of 960°C and burn only briefly. The results of tests according to the strict Underwriters Laboratories UL 94 V standard provide further evidence of its high flame retardance. The blends achieved the top V-0 classification at a specimen thickness of 1.5 millimeters.

The properties of the new Bayblend FR series are optimized for specific customized applications. One variant of the material has been designed with good chemical resistance and low-temperature impact strength in mind, making it suitable for encapsulating lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. A fiber-reinforced blend with very high stiffness and strength is also available for use in large structural components that have low wall thicknesses in some places.

“We are planning to expand the new product series in line with customer and market requirements, which will mean adding more variants with customized properties to suit specific applications,” Jung said.