Press release
Presse
September 10, 2021

For high-voltage batteries of electric vehicles

New VESTAMID® polyamide 12 compound with highest fire protection for busbars

  • Use for insulation up to 1000 V and above
  • Fire protection class V-0 with halogen-free flame retardants according to IEC 60754
  • RAL 2003 signal orange

Essen/Marl. Evonik is expanding its portfolio of polyamide 12 compounds for insulating electrical conductors with the product VESTAMID® LX9050 OR. By using halogen-free flame retardants in accordance with IEC 60754, the compound meets the requirements for classification V-0 of its flammability according to UL94. Busbars insulated with the new RAL 2003 signal orange colored material can be used at elevated operating temperatures up to 125 °C.

Protection against electrical breakdowns

In the future, busbars made of copper or aluminum in high-voltage batteries of electric or partially electric vehicles will require even safer protection against electrical breakdowns up to 1000 V voltage and above, and the associated risk of fire. As required by the automotive industry, Evonik has developed the new polyamide 12 compound VESTAMID® LX9050 OR with halogen-free fire protection additives specifically for this purpose to achieve the highest possible fire resistance with flammability class V-0. A coating thickness of 0.5 - 0.7 mm meets the insulation requirements of e-mobility for busbar profiles from 30 mm2 to about 150 mm2. The RAL 2003 orange signal color indicates permanently and at first glance the high-voltage application.

The copper or aluminum profiles are coated by co-extrusion, and the favorable processing properties of VESTAMID® LX9050 OR also allow higher extrusion speeds. Adhesion to the metal core is excellent; adhesion promoters are not required. Due to the high elasticity of the compound, the coated busbars can be shaped very well after extrusion and even bent with small radii without losing the protective effect of the VESTAMID® insulation.

Products in any flammability classification

"With its highest flame retardancy, excellent insulating properties, and very favorable processing from extrusion to the finished molded busbar component, Evonik's new high-performance plastic developed especially for e-mobility offers the possibility of making energy management in electric vehicles even more efficient and, above all, significantly safer," says Eckart Ruban, who is responsible for e-mobility in Evonik's High Performance Polymers Business Unit.

The compound is also suitable for processing in injection molding. Because of the halogen-free flame retardants used, it can also be used to manufacture other components for automotive electrics or for the electrical industry. The newly developed compound with a flammability classification of V-0 completes Evonik's existing range of other RAL signal orange polyamide 12 products with V-2 and HB classifications.

VESTAMID® has been valued in the electrical and electronics industry for decades and is also used in cable insulation, among other applications.

Caption

Insulation with the new halogen-free flame-retardant VESTAMID® compound protects busbars in high-voltage batteries of electric vehicles against electrical breakdown.

Please find here the respective photo.

Company information

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €12.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €1.91 billion in 2020. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. About 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life today and tomorrow.

About Smart Materials

The Smart Materials division includes businesses with innovative materials that enable resource-saving solutions and replace conventional materials. They are the smart answer to the major challenges of our time: environment, energy efficiency, urbanization, mobility and health. The Smart Materials division generated sales of around €3.24 billion in 2020 with about 7,900 employees. 

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.