Nylon is playing a part in the next generation of USB connectors.
The new USB Type-C standard is the first USB connector with reversible design, which allows users to plug it in either right side up or upside down, and both Royal DSM and DuPont Co. are supplying materials for the Type-C connectors.
DSM's Stanyl nylon 4/6 and ForTii 4T materials have been approved by global producers for use in the next generation of USB Type-C connectors while DuPont launched a new grade in its Zytel HTN high-performance nylon range for molding USB Type-C connectors.
USB Type-C connectors have wall thicknesses of only 25 percent of that of previous generation connectors. DSM said Stanyl and Stanyl ForTii can be used to produce connectors with wall thicknesses as thin as 0.12 millimeters that still have the required high mechanical properties.
The materials' high flow in combination with high weld-line strength help the connectors pass durability tests that involve mating and unmating plugs and sockets more than 10,000 times.
DuPont, meanwhile, says its Zytel HTN FR52 non-halogen can handle the processing requirements of metal overmolding in the connectors and have lower moisture absorption than other high performance nylons.
“Devices are smaller, thinner and transmit data at extremely high rates and those needs proved to be too demanding for current polymer materials,” said Chun-Ku Chen, Asia-Pacific marketing manager of diversified industry at DuPont Performance Polymers. “We saw our customers struggling with existing materials and developed a new grade of the Zytel HTN FR52 Non Halogen product family with excellent flow rates, superior dimensional stability and low dielectric constant specifically for moulding Type-C connectors.
“We applied our compounding expertise to ensure that even coloured USB Type-C cables connectors possess the right property balance for the application,” said Chen.