WCA January 2011

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Technology news
Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2011 37
World’s first PVC/halogen-free solution?
Electronics OEMs looking for PVC alternatives to make flexible
cords safer and more environmentally sustainable now have
halogen-free options from The Dow Chemical Company.
Dow SustainTM is said to offer the first PVC and halogen-free
compounds to meet key global industry standards for continuous
operating temperature, low smoke and heat deformation. Four
different product grades for jacketing and insulation are available in
sample quantities for producers of wires, cables and cords for
electrical and electronics applications.
“With the demand for PVC alternatives in an electronics market
growing fast, Dow has made a significant investment over the last
three years in perfecting halogen-free compounds,” says Simon
Leung, platform leader for personal electronics at Dow Wire &
Cable. “Dow Sustain is the first halogen-free offering qualified to
meet UL 62, JCS4509 and HD21.14 requirements on a commercial
scale while delivering excellent look and feel as well as enhanced
product and extrusion performance.”
In addition, Dow Sustain exhibits good chemical resistivity, low
corrosive off-gassing in the event of a fire, and flexibility for ease of
handling during manufacturing of the end product.
Dow Wire & Cable worked with Shenzhen BaoHing Electric Wire &
Cable Manufacture Co Ltd and Volex to trial Dow Sustain under
manufacturing conditions. The companies were able to meet key
global standards using the new Dow Wire & Cable compounds.
Dow Wire & Cable – USA
Website:
Huge wire order
from Korea
American Superconductor Corporation has received
what is expected to be the world’s largest order for
high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire.
LS Cable Ltd, a client of long standing with AMSC,
has placed an order for 3,000,000m (nearly 10 million
feet) of Amperium wire, AMSC’s proprietary second
generation (2G) HTS wire.
LS Cable intends to utilise the wire to complete
alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC)
superconductor cable projects globally. Under the
terms of the contract, AMSC is to begin shipping
Amperium wire to LS Cable in 2012.
“Our objective is to be the leading provider of
superconductor power cables for electric utilities
worldwide,” said LS Cable president, Jong-ho Son.
He added, “This Amperium wire contract helps ensure
we will have the wire we need to complete the
superconductor cable projects we have underway
with KEPCO in Korea and also take on commercial
project opportunities globally such as Tres Amigas in
the US.”
American Superconductor Corporation – USA
Website: