SABIC's ULTEM™ Portfolio Expands

SABIC Expands ULTEM™ Portfolio SABIC is expanding its ULTEM™ portfolio with colorable, high-flow, reinforced grades for connectors and other thin-walled components. SABIC, a leading firm in the chemical industry, has announced that its heat-resistant ULTEM™ resin portfolio is being expanded with new glass fiber reinforced grades offering high flow, special colorability and high strength, making them well-suited for thin-walled components such as fiber optic and electrical connectors. The new low-viscosity ULTEM 2120, 2220 and 2320 resins exhibit exceptional flow properties that give designers the ability to create miniature, high-precision components with complex geometries. For molders, the high flow properties of these materials offer the flexibility to reduce injection pressures while avoiding short shots, or to mold thinner walls at the same pressure. Unlike other high-flow glass-reinforced ULTEM materials, these new grades retain the existing color range of current ULTEM 2X10/2X00 resins and are specifically colorable for connector identification and product branding. Furthermore, compared to competing polysulfones, ULTEM 2X20 grades can produce more durable and reliable parts due to their higher mechanical strength. To advance sustainability, the new ULTEM resins are available as ISCC PLUS certified renewable versions. Additionally, they do not contain per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) intentionally added during the SABIC manufacturing process and are not expected to contain unintentional PFAS impurities. Paul Nugent, Senior Operations Manager, SABIC ULTEM Americas, said, "We developed these new ULTEM resins to meet the evolving requirements for extremely small and complex connectors and other components. The new grades address customer needs for increased design and aesthetic freedom, enhanced processing flexibility and cost-effectiveness, and reliable performance. We are confident that these specialty materials can add value to many sectors, from fiber optic communications to consumer electronics, and can help address the rapid technological advances in connectivity and data management."

High Flow to Enhance Design and Processing

Even at glass fiber loadings of 10, 20 and 30 percent respectively, ULTEM 2120, 2220 and 2320 resins exhibit low viscosity, enabling thin-walled compact designs that expand usable space within or around the part. Compared to established ULTEM resins with improved flow, these materials exhibit spiral flow properties up to 36 percent higher. High flow can also reduce processing time and manufacturing cost. ULTEM resins provide potential injection pressure reductions of up to 35 percent, helping customers overcome their molding equipment limitations. Improved flow also allows for reductions in processing temperature that can lower energy costs and shorten cooling times by up to 10 percent for faster throughput. Finally, high flow helps mitigate issues such as early resin freezing and visual defects.  

Colorability for Identification and Differentiation

ULTEM 2X20 resins can be specifically colored to critically identify the type and speed of fiber optic and electrical connectors, or to enhance the appearance and brand identity of components. SABIC's ColorXpress Services can develop and perfectly match colors and effects and offers customers a library containing thousands of searchable colors online.  

New Additions to SABIC's Heat-Resistant Materials

Like all ULTEM resins, which are amorphous polyetherimide (PEI) materials, the new high-flow, colorable grades possess an excellent balance of high-performance properties. These include long-term heat resistance, inherent flame retardancy, and chemical, dimensional and hydrolytic stability. SABIC's broad high-temperature material portfolio includes ULTEM, EXTEM™ and SILTEM™ resins. For more information, SABIC's new ULTEM 2x20 resin brochure can be reviewed or the Material Finder website developed by SABIC's Specialties business can be visited to search each grade. Source