SABIC Pioneers New Extruded Grades – Now Available to Support Automotive Large-Part Manufacturing Processes

Through its BLUEHERO™ initiative that aims to support the industry’s mission to create reliable, safe and efficient EVs as well as optimize EV battery components, SABIC has introduced its new extruded grades of flame-retardant polymer solutions that can offer a potentially favorable alternative to traditional sheet metal. These advancements support automotive customers in reaching their electrification goals and advancing global EV battery use. 

The extruded grades, made of proprietary SABIC materials, offer a unique alternative to traditional metal, compression and injection molding, allowing customers to mold complex thermoplastic structural parts in more cost-effective and efficient ways. These industry-first extruded grades broaden SABIC’s portfolio of materials and expand its BLUEHERO ecosystem of solutions designed to accelerate the electrification of the automotive market.

The extruded grades consist of two breakthrough resin materials, PP compound H1090 and STAMAX™ 30YH611, that were developed exclusively by SABIC for use on top covers, enclosures and module separators within EV battery packs. The extruded grades offer suitable melt strength for extrusion as well as low melt flow rheology, two key traits needed to make the material pliable enough for manufacturers to form components to fit intended design specs without breaking. This melt-strength process enables design freedom while delivering structural performance and strength.

On top of its flame-retardant advantages, the resin materials offer leading stiffness, strength and impact resistance over a range of temperatures. The grades are available globally and are extremely processable – good news for those wanting to incorporate SABIC’s solution into production.

Combating Thermal Incidents

Working with EV battery components, the conversation surrounding thermal incidents is always an area of focus. The team at SABIC has developed a solution that combines high melt strength with a bimodal distribution of the polymer matrix. This results in a high-strength, highly moldable flame-retardant glass fiber material with thermal properties that aid in delaying or containing thermal circulation. This means that if a thermal incident were to occur, the SABIC materials would mitigate thermal runaway to other parts of the battery pack or vehicle. 

Why it Matters

As the industry continues to strive toward an electrified future, the demand for components that support the transition to EVs becomes greater. SABIC understands the importance of creating solutions that add value to customer portfolios as well as offer supplementary benefits. SABIC’s extruded grades enable customers to develop thermoformed solutions to be used on large, complex structural parts while adding low-cost production, design advantages, weight reduction and thermal and electrical insulation through the process of extrusion.