Avant launches halogen-free flame-retardant thermoplastic elastomer grades made from sustainable raw materials for USB-C cable jackets

Avant launches halogen-free flame-retardant thermoplastic elastomer grades made from sustainable raw materials for USB-C cable jackets

Shanghai, China, June 27, 2023 - Today, Avant Group expanded its reSound™ BIO bio-based and reSound™ REC recycled content thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) product portfolio with the launch of new halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) grades containing recycled content and bio-based resins. The consumer electronics market increasingly requires products made from sustainable raw materials and meet stringent flame retardant compliance requirements (such as USB-C connector cable jackets) without compromising product performance and processability. Therefore, Avant launched this new grade product series to meet the growing market demand.

Xu Tao, General Manager of Specialty Engineering Materials Division, Asia, Avant, said: "Consumer electronics brands and manufacturers are constantly looking for material solutions to improve the sustainability of products and operations to meet growing consumer demand. Therefore, we have launched a new flame-retardant TPE series to provide more value to customers in the USB-C cable market. The products contain post-consumer recycled (PCR) or bio-based ingredients, and their carbon footprint value (PCF) is reduced by 15% to 25% compared to existing products."

In addition to proven halogen-free flame retardant technology, Avant's new low-carbon footprint HFFR formulations include two reSound BIO TPE products with up to 40% biobased content and a reSound REC FR grade with up to 30% PCR content. These three products have a hardness range of 80 to 90 (Shore A) and can achieve a UL94 V-0 flame retardant rating at a wall thickness of 3.2 mm . It can help customers meet the VW-1 test in the UL1581 fire rating test while achieving sustainable development goals.

The new HFFR grades also have good UV resistance and excellent extrusion processing properties. They can be used in a variety of consumer electronics cable applications, such as USB-C cable jackets for smartphones, tablets, personal and laptop computers, chargers, adapters, TVs, gaming devices, etc. Currently, the new HFFR reSound BIO and reSound REC TPE products are manufactured in Asia and sold worldwide.