Evonik is expanding its portfolio of polyamide 12 compounds for insulating electrical conductors with Vestamid LX9050 OR. By using halogen-free flame retardants in accordance with IEC 60754, the compound meets the requirements for V-0 flammability classification according to UL 94. Busbars insulated with the new RAL 2003 signal orange-colored material can be used at elevated operating temperatures up to 125°C.

In the future, busbars made of copper or aluminum in high-voltage batteries of electric or partially electric vehicles will require even safer protection against electrical breakdowns at 1000 V and above and the associated risk of fire. Evonik has developed the new Vestamid LX9050 OR polyamide 12 compound with halogen-free fire protection additives to achieve the highest possible fire resistance with flammability class V-0. A coating thickness of 0.5 to 0.7 mm meets the insulation requirements of e-mobility for busbar profiles from 30 to about 150 mm². The RAL 2003 orange signal color indicates permanently and at first glance the high-voltage application.

The copper or aluminum profiles are coated by co-extrusion, and the favorable processing properties of Vestamid LX9050 OR allow higher extrusion speeds. Adhesion to the metal core is excellent; adhesion promoters are not required. Because of the compound’s high elasticity, the coated busbars can be shaped easily after extrusion and even bent with small radii without losing the protective effect of the Vestamid insulation.

"With its highest flame retardancy, excellent insulating properties, and very favorable processing from extrusion to the finished molded busbar component, Evonik's new high-performance plastic developed especially for e-mobility offers the possibility of making energy management in electric vehicles even more efficient and, above all, significantly safer," said Eckart Ruban, who is responsible for e-mobility in Evonik's High Performance Polymers Business Unit.

The compound is also suitable for processing by injection molding. Further, because of the halogen-free flame retardants, it can also be used to manufacture other components for automotive electrics or for the electrical industry. The newly developed compound completes Evonik's existing range of RAL signal orange polyamide 12 products with V-2 and HB classifications.