Lots of New Alloys For Electronics.

Several new engineering thermoplastic blends are being introduced by Dow Plastics, Midland, Mich., for hand-held electronics like cell phones and personal digital assistants:

* Dow's new Emerge family includes two grades of polycarbonate modified with silicone, which provides flame resistance (UL 94V-0 at 1 mm) without the need for halogens or phosphorus. Benefits are said to include better heat and light stability, higher HDT and toughness, no plate-out, and improved recyclability. These two grades are based on technology used in Japan by Sumitomo Dow Ltd. to make NuCycle resins of polycarbonate and a special silicone compound with reactive sites. Dow plans to develop transparent materials similar to the latest NuCycle grade.

* Emerge resins also include two high-flow PC/ABS grades for thin-wall cell-phones and PDAs. (Dow's Pulse PC/ABS is aimed mainly at automotive uses.) A third Emerge PC/ABS is for laptops, monitors, printers, copiers, and modem enclosures. It contains new phosphate-based, non-halogen flame retardants said to provide good processability and minimum plate-out. It achieves UL 94V-0 at 1.6 mm and 5V-B at 2 mm with a balance of flow, heat resistance, and toughness.

* Dow will soon introduce four ABS/TPU blends called Amplify. Unlike Dow's more flexible Prevail ABS/TPUs, rigid Amplify alloys utilize Dow's Isoplast rigid TPU. Amplify resins can be used in small electronics, power tools, and auto bumper beams because of their balance of toughness, chemical resistance, and high flow.