The LEHVOSS Group and KRAIBURG TPE, two renowned industry leaders in the development and production of plastic materials, have worked together on new thermally conductive material systems for the electrical and electronics industry, with a focus on e-mobility applications, and are now presenting these groundbreaking material developments. These innovations aim to improve the adhesion between thermally conductive plastic hard and soft components in the 2-component injection molding process and thus make the production of electronic components more efficient and reliable.
The new development based on polyamide (PA) from LEHVOSS and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) from KRAIBURG TPE enables a firm connection between the two components. The use of the two-component injection molding process opens up numerous advantages, as it also eliminates the need for gap pads or pastes. Depending on the system, cost savings of up to 30% compared to previous solutions are possible.
"Our collaboration with KRAIBURG TPE has led to a groundbreaking innovation that significantly expands the possibilities in the field of electronics production," says Benjamin Reeh, Product Manager for Conductive Compounds at the LEHVOSS Group. "The improved adhesion between the components means that assembly steps can be reduced, and the risk of contamination minimized."
A key advantage of this new system is its robustness. Compared to conventional pastes, which can change their viscosity when temperatures change, the new system remains stable and ensures reliable performance even under extreme conditions.
"The development of high-quality thermoplastic compounds with excellent adhesion to soft components is an area in which LEHVOSS has outstanding technical know-how," explains Josef Neuer, Head of Product Management at KRAIBURG TPE. "Our partnership has made it possible to use this expertise and create an innovative solution that meets customer requirements."
The thermally conductive plastics offered by the LEHVOSS Group not only offer high thermal conductivity, but also excellent mechanical strength, making them ideal for use in housing parts. Electrically insulating and electrically conductive compounds are offered. This means, for example, that the hard component can be electrically conductive and the soft component electrically insulating and thermally conductive at the same time. In addition, flame-retardant variants are also available to meet fire safety requirements.
"Thermally conductive plastics offer highly interesting application and savings options. High-performance and cost-optimized materials and intelligent component design are absolutely necessary for this. Only in this combination do advantages arise over traditional solutions made of metal and ceramic. With the materials developed for this project, users have the opportunity to leverage new potential," says Dr. Doreen Alisch, application engineer in the Compound division of the LEHVOSS Group.
The partnership between the LEHVOSS Group and KRAIBURG TPE is an example of the collaboration between two industry leaders who are combining their expertise to create innovative solutions for the challenges of the future. This material development will open up new possibilities for the design of high-performance, reliable and robust electronic devices.
Photos: Test setup for measuring the temperature distribution of thermally conductive plastics. Test specimens manufactured using the 2-component injection molding process. Materials: LUVOCOM PA6 TC and KRAIBURG TPE thermally conductive. Right picture: Temperature distribution in the test specimens.
Contact person:
Lehmann&Voss&Co. KG
Thomas Collet
Schimmelmannstrasse 103
22043 HamburgGermany
Tel.: +49 40 44197 412
E-Mail: thomas.collet(at)lehvoss(dot)de
About Kraiburg TPE:
KRAIBURG TPE (www.kraiburg-tpe.com) is a global manufacturer of customized thermoplastic elastomers. KRAIBURG TPE was founded in 2001 as an independent division of the KRAIBURG Group and is now the industry-wide competence leader in the field of TPE compounds. The company's goal is to offer safe, reliable and sustainable products for customer applications. With more than 660 employees worldwide and production sites in Germany, the USA and Malaysia, the company offers a large product portfolio for applications in the automotive, industrial and consumer goods industries as well as for the strictly regulated medical sector. The established product lines THERMOLAST®, COPEC®, HIPEX® and For Tec E® are processed using injection molding or extrusion processes and offer manufacturers numerous advantages not only in processing but also in product design. KRAIBURG TPE is characterized by innovative strength, global customer orientation, customized product solutions and reliable service. The company is ISO 50001 certified at its headquarters in Germany and has ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications at all locations worldwide.