A leading North American automotive lighting component supplier, Empire Electronics Inc. is meeting more stringent demands for high-temperature resistance and durability in automotive lighting parts with new T20 sockets and the 2.8 In-Line connector series made of two different DuPont engineering polymers.
The T20 sockets, molded from DuPont™ Zytel® HTN PPA (polyphthalamide) withstand higher temperatures and are more compact than the S8 sockets used in most North American cars while delivering the same power output as S8 sockets. Their reduced footprint and smaller socket hole opening give automotive lighting designers more styling freedom and a larger potential reflecting area, but they result in higher operating temperatures. Empire uses a toughened, glass-reinforced grade of Zytel® HTN PPA that can use water for mold temperature control. DuPont's PPA material offers low outgassing and high molding productivity. The sockets in Zytel® HTN PPA consist of two molded parts assembled by the cost-effective ultrasonic welding process. Each part can be color-coded as an identification aid in wire harness assembly and installation.
Empire molds the new 2.8 In-Line connector series from hydrolysis-resistant DuPont™ Crastin® PBT thermoplastic polyester resin. For this, Empire selected a glass-reinforced grade of Crastin® due to their hydrolysis resistance, dimensional stability, an excellent balance of strength and impact resistance, and high flow for easy molding. The connectors comply with demanding USCAR requirements for retention of terminal pullout resistance and other key functional characteristics after rigorous thermal cycling tests involving hot, cold, humid and dry conditions.
11-Dec-08 
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