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A new family of flexible Noryl modified-polyphenylene
ether (MPPE) resin can provide an alternative to polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), flame-retarded polyethylene (FR-PE) and thermoplastic polyurethane
(TPU) in wire coating applications in the consumer electronics industry.
Noryl WCD910 and Noryl WCP860 resins are the first in a new line
of MPPE products from GE Advanced Materials specifically developed
for wire-coating applications. Noryl WCD910 resin is formulated
for use in DC cords, whereas Noryl WCP860 resin is formulated for
use in plug applications. The new products - Noryl WCD910 and Noryl
WCP860 resins have passed bending-strength tests by charger manufacturers
and addressed eco-label, flame-retardant application concerns. The
added advantage is that unlike PVC, they contain no halogens like
chlorine which can break down into highly acidic gases when burned.
Weight reductions of 20% to 30%, as well as faster extrusion rates
for potentially higher productivity and lower systems costs are
achievable as the new resins offer a specific gravity lower than
FR-PE and TPU.
In 2004, GE plans to unveil new halogen-free flame-retardant (VW-1)
versions of these materials for applications that require added
FR protection. The new flexible Noryl resin grades are excellent
potential candidates for consumer electronics. These include: video
tape recorder (VTR) cameras; radio/cassette players , portable CD
players, micro-disk (MD), MP3 and DVD players; video/TV games etc.
In the global computing segment, the new GE products are expected
to be used in plug and cord applications for desktop and notebook
computers, PDAs, faxes, portable PCs, printers, scanners and digital
cameras. In telecommunications, GE anticipates the flexible MPPE
resins to make inroads into application areas such as mobile phone
accessories and cordless phones.
The initial success of these materials has been excellent and GE
is currently looking to translate the products into newer sectors
such as automotive.
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