Self-extinguishing materials for transporting electrical energy

The rapid development of applications with high voltages and currents requires new plastic materials able to withstand these operating conditions.
In the context of sustainable electricity generation and storage, or even just e-mobility, designers are required to come up with systems able to carry intense currents at both low and high voltages. Conveying large amounts of electrical energy requires large conductors, called busbars, which are sometimes contained in bus ducts.

Busbars - crucial elements for transporting strong currents
The passage of very strong currents creates extremely harsh operating conditions for the materials supporting the busbars. First of all, they are heated, and can reach maximum working temperatures close to 100°C. And in the event of a malfunction, the temperature of the metal can easily exceed 400°C.
Furthermore, the electrical insulation, which is essential, must obviously guarantee operational safety in any situation. In the e-mobility sector, fire prevention requires compliance with specific performance levels in terms of flame behaviour and the glow wire test (GWIT according to IEC60695-2).

Busbar supports - the challenges
The bars must be held in place by solid supports able to withstand the mechanical and magnetic stresses caused by the current. To mould supports that will be reliable over time, LATI offers traditional well-established solutions, all certified as self-extinguishing under the UL94 V0 standard.
The polymers used are PA6, PA66 and PBT, made flame resistant thanks to red phosphorous-based, halogen-free and environmentally friendly retardant systems.