SABIC to expand portfolio of ULTEM™ UTF120 film for high-temperature dielectric capacitors with new 7- and 10-micron gauges

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, will introduce at PCIM (Power Conversion and Intelligent Motion) Europe 2018, in booth #6-138, two new gauges of ULTEM™ UTF120 polyetherimide (PEI) dielectric film for high-temperature, professional-grade capacitor applications. These new additions of 7µm and 10µm (micron) thicknesses to SABIC’s industry-leading portfolio of ULTEM™ UTF120 film respond to customers’ requirements for film that can meet the voltage requirements of different capacitors and open the door for new design options. PCIM Europe will be held in Nuremberg, Germany from 5 - 7 June 2018.

SABIC’s ULTEM UTF120 film technology offers important advantages for capacitor applications, such as high dielectric constant and insulation resistance and low dielectric loss. The two new grades address the need for higher-voltage applications that require thicker film with greater storage capacity. These new ULTEM UTF120 film grades are part of an expanding portfolio that already features a 5µm ULTEM UTF120 film product, which was launched last year. Today, SABIC is the only materials supplier offering extruded PEI film at these thicknesses.

“Today’s power electronics applications demand higher performance and greater reliability than ever before,” said Stephanie Gathman, director, Emerging Applications, SABIC. “SABIC is actively investing in new high-temperature film technologies that offer distinct advantages over previous options, including better thermal and electrical stability and longer service life. With the introduction of these two new ULTEM UTF120 film grades, we are continuing to deliver on our strategy of building a broad portfolio that can support a full range of capacitor voltages and energy densities.”

Unique Capacitor Solution

SABIC’s new 7µm and 10µm ULTEM UTF120 dielectric film products enable the design of lightweight, compact, high energy density capacitors that can store large amounts of electrical energy for long periods without significant current leakage or loss of charge at high temperatures. This technology can benefit capacitor applications by delivering key properties including high dielectric constant and insulation resistance and low dielectric loss, which are stable at temperatures up to 150°C and at high frequencies.

With a temperature range of -40°C to 150°C, ULTEM UTF120 film exceeds the temperature performance of commodity capacitor materials such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. As such, the SABIC film may support demanding applications such as DC-DC converters and electric compressors for electric vehicles. Because the ULTEM UTF120 film can handle higher temperatures, it can reduce or potentially eliminate the need to actively cool converter capacitors by way of a secondary source. For instance, the film can minimize the need for cooling loops used to reduce temperatures for PP and PET film capacitors, which have traditionally taken up precious under-bonnet space and can constrain design flexibility.

Capacitors using ULTEM UTF120 film are capable of withstanding industry-standard 260oC reflow soldering processes. The SABIC film also provides excellent handling through metallization, capacitor winding and flattening (squashing). It can be processed on existing equipment and has been validated with both film-foil and metalized electrodes, including flat, tapered and patterned metalized electrode designs.

The company’s expanding portfolio of ULTEM UTF120 film products is commercially available worldwide. It is on display at the SABIC booth for the duration of PCIM Europe 2018. Company application development and technical experts will be available during the show to answer questions and discuss the ULTEM UTF120 film technology.