Organic Phosphinate Flame retardant is used in the PA charging gun housing of new generation electric vehicles

To meet government targets for reducing fossil fuel emissions, various car brands are investing heavily in hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs). In order to keep up with current trends in the electric vehicle industry, automakers will increase the production scale of electric vehicle charging equipment in the next few years.

In order to reduce costs, some suppliers new to the electric vehicle market have used lower-quality materials to produce charging plugs, which has put other manufacturers under considerable cost pressure. However, these low-quality materials fail to meet the performance requirements expected by automotive equipment manufacturers. Moreover, they are not suitable for manufacturing new fast charging guns, because fast charging plugs need to withstand higher voltages and require the use of structures with high-strength materials to ensure that the parts are safe and reliable under various working conditions. 

Currently, polyamide 6, 66 (PA6, PA66), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polycarbonate (PC) are thermoplastic materials widely used as solutions for charging gun housings. To improve electrical and fire safety, these polymers often contain flame retardant additives. However, these additives not only increase the material cost, they also reduce the material's mechanical properties, which results in the plug being less impact-resistant and more susceptible to damage from everyday wear and tear, such as being dropped or being run over by a vehicle. Premature damage to parts also increases the risk of fires and electrical problems over time.

Flame retardants can also affect the appearance of thermoplastics, often causing them to deteriorate more quickly in outdoor conditions. Sunlight can discolor the material and cause fiberglass and additives to rise to the surface, creating a blooming effect. Since charging stations are often branded with the car manufacturer or Tier 1 supplier so that end users use them on a regular basis, visibly worn plugs can have a negative impact on the supply brand. By utilizing materials that do not contain flame retardant additives, manufacturers have the opportunity to improve the surface appearance, performance and quality of charging plugs without increasing costs.

Novista product PN2131/2131CG is used in PA/PA66, PN4131C is used in PA66, PN5131/5131S is used in PA66 and high remperature Nylon.