LANXESS develops new dyes to improve electric vehicle safety

German specialty chemicals manufacturer Lanxess has developed a new colorant that can be used to permanently color polyamide (PA) and other plastics in RAL 2003 orange,media reported
.
This soluble organic dye, Macrolex Orange HT, is highly resistant to heat, light and weather, and provides excellent color strength and brightness
.

(Image source: LANXESS Group)

Unlike most conventional dyes, Macrolex Orange HT is not only suitable for PA, but also for other common plastic types such as polycarbonate (PC) or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)
.
The high processing temperatures of these plastics often present challenges for colorants
.
This new halogen-free colorant consistently delivers high-quality and high-precision color (dE ≤ 0.
7), which is especially important for orange
.
Normally, chromatic aberration with dE<1 cannot be detected by the naked eye
.
In addition, this new "high pressure orange" has high color intensity and is cost-effective
.

In addition to high pressure applications, Macrolex Orange HT can be used to color other high-quality plastic products such as housings for tools and other electronic equipment, as well as technical plastics in automotive components and structural applications
.

Warning of potential hazards with color signals

Electric vehicles are exposed to higher voltages and currents than internal combustion engines
.
The DC voltage in the battery circuit is up to 400 V, and the AC voltage in the engine circuit is up to 1000
V.
It is believed that AC voltages over 42V and DC voltages over 60V are potentially life-threatening
.
Therefore, electrically driven live parts are painted bright orange for quick and easy identification
.
The new Macrolex Orange HT product helps reduce the risk of accidents during motor operation
.

The LANXESS Macrolex family of dyes has a variety of potential applications and is well compatible with many types of polymers and manufacturing processes
.
At the same time, numerous legal requirements regarding food packaging or children's toys are met
.

The range of colorants includes approximately 150 products, in addition to the Macrolex brand colorants, a range of pigments and pigment formulations for a variety of demanding applications
.