Global custom engineered thermoplastic compounder RTP Company has developed a line of decaBDE-free, flame retardant thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds that are RoHS compliant. These products address the needs of electrical and electronics and other component manufacturers following the European Union’s repeal of the decaBDE exemption under the RoHS Directive.
“As a result of the RoHS Directive, global OEMs are seeking materials using non-decabrom flame retardants for plastic articles used in E&E applications,” said Paul Killian, Technical Marketing Manager—TPE Division at RTP Company. “Drawing on our strong flame retardant technologies, RTP Company now offers decaBDE-free flame retardant compounds in all major TPE resins. This enables RTP Company to provide the widest variety of material solutions available in the industry.”
Flame retardant TPEs are commonly used in the electronics industry for components such as overmolded connectors and strain reliefs. “RTP Company’s flame retardant TPEs offer superior bondability and can be used with multi-shot or overmolding techniques, providing two key properties in one material,” said Killian. “UL94 flammability ratings for these compounds are predominately V-0 @ 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) with some grades extending down to 1/32 inch (0.8 mm). Many of RTP Company’s TPE compounds are fully UL Recognized with yellow cards and more are in the works.”
“Additionally, our flame retardant TPE compounds can to be combined with additional compounding technologies, from color to conductivity, while maintaining the material’s RoHS compliance,” explained Killian. “This enables RTP Company to expand our product’s range of uses and promote our materials to a wider variety of industries — solving multiple problems for customers with one product.”
RoHS compliant, flame retardant TPEs from RTP Company are available in thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPUR – RTP 1200 Series), polyether-ester block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer (TEEE – RTP 1500 Series), styrenic block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer (TES – RTP 2700 S Series), and thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (TEO – RTP 2800 Series) resins at durometers ranging from 45 Shore A to 65 Shore D.
