New Nylon Targets Miniature ElectronicsNew Nylon Targets Miniature Electronics

DSM, a Dutch materials company, is exhibiting new nylon applicationsat K 2010 as part of its ongoing transformation toward higher-performancematerials.

The primary development focus is on a nylon that DSMdescribes as the first new polymer developed in the 21st century - a materialfirst designated PA4T and now called Stanyl ForTii. Announced in 2009, StanylForTii is a halogen-free, flame- retardant, high-temperature polyamide.

The "T" represents terephthalate. "The halogen-free flameretardants work better in 4/T than in 4/6," Wilfred van Pelt, DSM global technical product manager, said in a briefing with reporters at DSM's Chemelotproduction and research site in Geleen, The Netherlands. The chemistry used toprovide flame retardance is proprietary, but Haventh did say it is phosphorbased.

On June 22, DSM inaugurated its new Stanyl ForTii productionunit, which quadruples capacity.

Gart Kostermans, project director Stanyl ForTii of DSMEngineering Plastics, said, "Stanyl ForTii supports market trends thatcall for miniaturization and the convergence of electronic devices. It is ourexpectation, based on solid customer programs in hand, that we will utilizethis expansion fully in the very near future."

Stocko Contact, a Germanmanufacturer of electromechanical components, plans to switch all its SMTconnectors to Stanyl ForTii. Two new series of pin connectors are designedmainly for use in dishwashers, washing machines, dryers and refrigerators.

The connectors can be assembled with lead-free reflowsoldering, making this the first RAST platform that can be reflow soldered.

RAST is a new connector standard that was developed to avoidmismatched wires.

"Stocko is the firstcompany to introduce SMT RAST solutions with significant cost reductioncompared to previous through-hole solutions," said Michael Degenhardt, designengineer for connectors at Stocko Contact.

Stanyl ForTii properties include dimensional stability, fullcompatibility with lead-free reflow soldering, high stiffness and mechanicalstrength at elevated temperatures, and a high melting and glass transitionpoint.

Stanyl ForTii meets miniaturization requirements forelectronic devices such as cell phones and computers. Potential electronicsapplications include memory card connectors, CPU sockets, high-temperaturebobbins, switches or notebook computer memory module connectors. In automotivemarkets, the material supports developments in under-the-hood applications forelectrical systems, air/fuel and powertrain components. In the lightingindustry, trials have been conducted for light-emitting diode packages andmodules due to high reflectivity and high temperature stability.

In another application development, FCI, a supplier ofinterconnect products, has approved halogen-free V-0 Stanyl ForTii for its FPCconnectors product line of optical disk drives and is currently expanding theusage on various other connectors and sockets.

Optical disc drives (ODDs) are an integral part of computersand stand-alone consumer appliances such as CD, DVD or Blu-ray disk drives. Acrucial part of such an optical disc drive is the pickup head, consisting ofthe laser, a lens for focusing the laser beam and photodiodes detecting thelight reflected from the surface of the disc. The electrical connection to thiscritical component is made by flexible printed circuit (FPC) connectors.

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