Raising the Bar with SABIC’s First Thermoplastic for Rail Seat Backs and Covers that Meet Highest Hazard Level of New Fire Safety Standard

SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business today announced new LEXAN™ FST3403 (flame-smoke-toxicity) polycarbonate (PC) copolymer, the first thermoplastic solution for rail seating applications to meet the strictest fire safety requirements under the CEN/TS 45445 standard. Now commercial a full two years before this European standard goes into effect, new high-performance
LEXAN FST3403 copolymer – developed specifically for seat back shells and side covers – achieved the highest possible hazard level rating (HL3) under CEN/TS 45445-2 R5. In addition to its exceptional heat release, smoke density and toxicity performance, documented by independent laboratory testing, the LEXAN FST copolymer delivers high flow properties for injection molding large parts with excellent aesthetics and impact strength. Today’s new product launch demonstrates SABIC’s commitment to meeting evolving public safety standards with tailored thermoplastic solutions that support the needs of transportation industry customers.

“SABIC’s proactive focus on developing advanced materials technology for rail industry customers will give them a significant head start in developing compliant seating components for a first-to-market competitive advantage,” said Ilknur Gur, general manager, Specialty Business in Europe, Innovative Plastics. “Our new LEXAN FST3403 copolymer enables customers to continue using thermoplastics in their seat back shells and side covers instead of having to revert to traditional metal or thermosets that can inhibit design flexibility and potentially add weight and costs from secondary operations. This industry-leading technology greatly simplifies and accelerates compliance with the new European standard.”

Combining High Performance and Attractive Aesthetics

LEXAN FST3403 copolymer was tested by the Currenta Institute in Germany according to the requirements of CEN/TS 45445-2 R5 for seat back shells and side covers. This independent facility certified that LEXAN FST3403 copolymer complies with the requirements of HL3, the most challenging hazard level to achieve. Currenta tested the material for heat release under ISO 5660-1 and for smoke density and toxicity under ISO 5659-2.

The material also provides high flow capabilities that enable large parts, such as seat back shells, to be injection molded without marks, texture defaults, flow lines and other surface defects. It can also be molded in tooling that is typically used for PC/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) materials. Another aesthetic benefit of LEXAN FST3403 copolymer is its ability to be custom colored, which avoids the need for secondary painting.

LEXAN FST3403 copolymer provides the sufficient impact performance and chemical resistance that are hallmarks of LEXAN PC resin. These properties help protect railcar, bus and tram seating from wear and tear.

The new material is available globally.

About SABIC

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world’s top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world’s market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.

SABIC recorded a net profit of SR 29.24 billion (US$ 7.80 billion) in 2011. Sales revenues for 2011 totaled SR 189.90 billion (US$ 50.64 billion). Total assets stood at SR 332.78 billion (US$ 88.74 billion) at the end of 2011.

SABIC’s businesses are grouped into Chemicals, Polymers, Performance Chemicals, Fertilizers, Metals and Innovative Plastics. SABIC has significant research resources with 16 dedicated Technology & Innovation facilities in Saudi Arabia, the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, India and South Korea. The company operates in more than 40 countries across the world with around 40,000 employees worldwide.

SABIC manufactures on a global scale in Saudi Arabia, the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Headquartered in Riyadh, SABIC was founded in 1976 when the Saudi Arabian Government decided to use the hydrocarbon gases associated with its oil production as the principal feedstock for production of chemicals, polymers and fertilizers. The Saudi Arabian Government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent held by private investors in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

About Innovative Plastics

SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with an 80-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers’ most pressing challenges. Today, Innovative Plastics is a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in more than 35 countries and approximately 9,000 employees worldwide. The company continues to lead the plastics industry with customer collaboration and continued investments in new polymer technologies, global application development, process technologies, and environmentally responsible solutions that serve diverse markets such as automotive, electronics, building & construction, transportation, and healthcare. The company’s extensive product portfolio includes thermoplastic resins, coatings, specialty compounds, film, and sheet. Innovative Plastics (www.sabic-ip.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).

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This release was published on openPR.