SABIC ULTEM™ resin family expands with colorable, high-flow, glass-reinforced grade for thin-walled components such as connectors

SABIC ULTEM™ resin family expands with colorable, high-flow, glass-reinforced grade for thin-walled components such as connectors

Global diversified chemicals company Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) today announced the addition of new members to its high-temperature resistant ULTEM™ resin family. The new glass fiber reinforced grades launched this time have the advantages of high flowability, customized color matching and high strength, and are very suitable for thin-walled components such as optical fiber and electrical connectors. The new ULTEM 2120, 2220 and 2320 resins also have excellent flow properties, helping designers create small, high-precision parts with complex geometries. For molders, the high flow properties of these materials help reduce injection pressure or reduce wall thickness at the same pressure while avoiding issues such as glue starvation. Compared with other high-flow glass fiber reinforced ULTEM materials, the new grade material can not only provide the existing ULTEM 2X10/2X00 resin color matching, but also support more customized color schemes, thereby improving connector recognition and establishing brand image. . In addition, ULTEM 2X20 grades have higher mechanical strength compared to competing polysulfone products, allowing for more durable and reliable components.

To promote sustainability, the new ULTEM resin is also available in an ISCC PLUS certified renewable version. Additionally, they do not contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) intentionally added during the manufacturing process and are not expected to contain unintentionally introduced PFASs as impurities.

"Our newly developed ULTEM resins are designed to meet the evolving requirements for extremely small, complex-shaped connectors and other components," said Paul Nugent, senior business manager, SABIC ULTEM Americas. "The new grades give customers greater design and aesthetic freedom. , with higher processing flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and more reliable performance. We believe that these special materials can create greater value for multiple industries such as optical fiber communications and consumer electronics, and help promote the fields of interconnection and data management. technological progress.”

High fluidity helps enhance design freedom and improve production efficiency

Although ULTEM 2120, 2220 and 2320 resins contain 10%, 20% and 30% glass fiber respectively, they still exhibit high flow properties, enabling compact thin-wall designs and increasing available space in or around parts. The new grades have helical flow lengths that are up to 36% longer than existing high-flow ULTEM resins.

In addition, high fluidity can reduce processing time and reduce production costs. By reducing injection pressure by up to 35%, ULTEM resin can help customers overcome application limitations of injection molding equipment. Higher flowability also means lower processing temperatures, reduced energy costs and up to 10% shorter cooling times, resulting in higher yields. Not only that, but high flow helps reduce problems such as premature curing (solidification) of the resin and cosmetic defects.

Excellent colorability for improved recognition and differentiation

ULTEM 2X20 resin is available in custom color combinations to increase identification of fiber optic and electrical connectors of different types and speeds, while also enhancing component appearance and brand recognition. SABIC's ColorXpress service helps customers develop and accurately match a wide range of colors and effects and provides customers with online searches of thousands of colors.

New member of SABIC’s high-temperature materials family

Like other ULTEM resins (amorphous polyetherimide materials), the new high-flow, colorable grades offer an excellent balance of high-performance properties, including long-term high temperature resistance, inherent flame retardancy and chemical resistance, and hydrolytic stability. SABIC has an extensive portfolio of high-temperature resistant materials, including ULTEM, EXTEM™ and SILTEM™ resins.

For more information, please browse SABIC's latest ULTEM 2x20 resin product manual, or visit the Material Finder, a material search website developed by SABIC's Specialty Materials Department, to search for related brand products.