Green Choice Emerges for Wire and Cable

Aninteresting new option for wiring used in consumer and other electronicsapplications is a plasticizer based on natural ingredients.

Traditional polyvinylchloride (PVC) plasticizers use phthalate chemicals that are said to mimichuman hormones and adversely affect various life forms. Plasticizers provideflexibility, an important requirement for wiring.

Dow recentlyintroduced EcolibriumBio-Based Plasticizers, which are phthalate-free and made from nearly 100percent renewable feedstocks. The bio-component is modified vegetable oil.

Theplasticizers "are being qualified by a number of Dow customers at this time," aspokesman told Design News. They costa premium above traditional plasticizers, but the spokesman declined to providedetails.

Dow says bio-basedplasticizers exhibit the same performance and feel as incumbent PVCplasticizers while meeting all regulatory requirements for flame resistance.

Dow Wire& Cable will license select cable makers to commercialize the bio-based plasticizerswith technical support from the company.

"DowEcolibrium Bio-Based Plasticizers are truly a breakthrough for the wire andcable industry but their introduction here is just the tip of the iceberg-intime they will also open up differentiation opportunities for OEMs in other industriesthat use PVC compounds," says Jonathan Penrice, global marketing director forDow Wire & Cable.

Other targetmarkets are building and construction and automotive.

Dow hopessales of the bio plasticizer will get a boost from the U.S. Green BuildingCouncil's LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating Systems, which put anemphasis on green products.

The newplasticizer is currently being produced at Dow sites in North America but willbe produced in other geographies based on demand. Dow capacity data isconfidential.