LATI Releases Thermoplastic Compounds for EV Thermal Management, EMI Shielding

Italian compounder LATI has collected the engineering thermoplastics it develops for electrified vehicles into a single technical brochure, spanning flame-retardant, high-temperature, thermally conductive, EMI-shielding, low-friction and recycled-content grades.

The halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR) compounds are built on polyamide, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyphthalamide (PPA) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) matrices, and LATI rates them for electrical insulation, flame resistance and long-term stability under the operating conditions a part is expected to see.

Orange is the standard identifier for high-voltage circuits, and the color has to survive the heat the part lives in. LATI has developed HV formulations stabilized against color shift during thermal aging, including grades for hot and humid environments, so that a component stays visually recognizable as high-voltage across the vehicle's service life, according to the company.

For parts running past the limits of conventional engineering polyamides, the brochure covers compounds based on PPA, PPS, polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PESU), polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

Thermal conductivity comes from the LATICONTHER range, which disperses graphite and special ceramics through the polymer matrix to reach values of up to 28 W/mK. An unfilled polyamide conducts at well under 1 W/mK, so the figure is almost entirely a function of filler loading, which is also what limits flow and mechanical performance. LATI says the compounds let designers transfer heat through plastic components and, in selected applications, evaluate alternatives to metal parts.

LATISHIELD compounds build an electrically conductive structure inside the matrix using stainless steel fibers, carbon fibers and nanotubes. Shielding effectiveness runs from 30 to 90 dB across the range LATI lists in its technical documentation, or roughly a 30-fold to 30,000-fold reduction in field strength.

LATILUB formulations cover friction and wear, and LATI says they can reduce or eliminate the need for external lubrication. The range includes grades formulated without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The LATIECO compounds use raw materials from mechanical and chemical recycling and include flame-retardant and thermally conductive grades. A single compound can combine recycled raw material and thermal conductivity, according to the company.

"Electrification is significantly expanding the number of functions that plastic materials must perform inside the vehicle. It is no longer only a matter of lightweighting or metal replacement, but also of electrical safety, thermal management, electromagnetic shielding, high-temperature resistance and reduced environmental impact," said Luca Posca, LATI's Group Technical Assistance & Marketing Director.

Source: LATI