Lorenz Kunststofftechnik (Wallenhorst-Hollage / Germany; www.lomix.de) has developed a thermosetting plastic that combines several mechanical characteristics, reducing the amount of plastics used in a component and making it suitable for a wide variety of uses. Managing director Thomas Lorenz explained that customers often face the problem that a component must fulfil different standards and regulations, requiring the use of various types of plastics, which is laborious and expensive.

After two years of development, Lorenz Kunststofftechnik has created "BMC 0204", a flame-resistant plastic with features including good flow value, low injection pressure, high thermal conductivity, good arc resistance and a wide temperature resistance. The material has achieved level V0 in the UL 94 certification test for flammability and achieved a score of 100% in limited oxygen index (LOI) tests. BMC 0204 complies with several European standards, for example the French certification for fire protection in railway vehicles, as well as the new EU-wide railway standard. “As 0204 covers such a large number of standards, with its help, only one plastic is required for the series production of components in trains as in buildings,” Lorenz said.

As well as manufacturing very delicate components, BMC 0204 is also suitable for large-scale production, thanks to its flow value; a characteristic that Lorenz said is very unusual for a flame-resistance plastic. In addition, a very low injection pressure makes it suited for the over-moulding of delicate electronic components and sensors.

The plastic can retain its form and remains unbreakable, even in temperatures as low as -30 °C and as high as 180 °C. It is also free of halogen, chloride, cyanide and bromine substances, and can be printed upon or inscribed using a laser.