Syndiotactic polystyrene compound offers higher heat performance for lighting

Plastics Additives & Compounding - Feb 12, 2001

Edgetek sPS high performance syndiotactic polystyrene, developed by PolyOne

Corporation's German compounder Theodor Bergmann Kunststoffwerk, has been
selected by a leading manufacturer of innovative lighting applications as a
replacement material for PBT. The company says that the compound overcame the
heat performance limitations of the existing material enabling the redesign to a
higher quality of one of the manufacturer's existing spotlight fittings.

The increasing use of higher output energy efficient lamps raises demands on many
of the materials used in the manufacture of light fittings, such as those for
spotlights. Some traditional materials for this application have limited thermal
properties, which has prompted manufacturers to look at higher performance
polymers. However, this can result in increased costs.

The company says that Syndiotactic polystyrene (s-PS) offers an optimum

combination of high temperature resistance (HDT-A up to 240C) and cost efficiency.
Other benefits are claimed to include low warpage together with low viscosity,
particularly in comparison with PBT, which provides good flow behaviour and ease
of filling complex parts. Up to 30% faster cycle times can be achieved, due to the
material's faster cooling and solidification.

The relatively new compound sPS has a low moisture uptake, which means that it
does not require pre-drying, making it easy to mould and provide energy cost
savings. Low density and weight offer further economies in part production and the
crystalline nature of the material provides good resistance to cleaning fluids that
can induce cracking in other materials, says PolyOne. These characteristics also
allow Edgetek sPS to replace materials such as PPS and LCP in some applications.

The material previously used in the light fitting was a 30% glass-fibre filled PBT with
a density of 1.52 and a Heat Deflection Temperature of 215C, which presented
limitations to further design developments. The company developed an Edgetek
formulation that could provide an increased HDT and provided a 16% weight saving
benefit.

The company adds that in this application using the new compound did not mean
that part tooling required any modifications. However, shrinkages of Edgetek sPS
are sometimes lower than the existing material used. A slight modification to the

filler level or the use of mixed fillers can reduce or eliminate this effect. The full
benefits of using sPS can be achieved when considering new tool designs, says
PolyOne. For example, material and cooling time, hence overall cycle time, is
lowered if the size of the runners is reduced.
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