Materials maker LyondellBasell Industries has commercialized what officials are calling "a revolutionary polymer compound for optimized manufacturing."
The new grade of LBI's Petrothene-brand compounds is a cross-linkable, all-in-one flame-retardant compound, officials with the Houston-based firm said in a news release. They added that the material is expected to deliver considerable cost savings while streamlining manufacturing processes.
The new compound also improves the quality of end products for wire producers in the automotive and appliance industries, officials said. Based on customer demand and industry need, LyondellBasell designed the new material to optimize production line speeds and enhance manufacturing efficiency.
The new Petrothene grade is formulated for use in Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) primary wire applications, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) thin wall applications and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) appliance wire.
"Developing innovative solutions to address the ever-evolving needs of our customers is an important aspect of how we operate and continue to grow our market share," Palmer Giddings , polyolefins vice president, said.
LBI's Petrothene compounds can be based on high, low or linear low density polyethylene resins.
LBI is a major global supplier of PE and polypropylene resins. The firm posted sales of $50.5 billion in 2023. Its Advanced Polymer Solutions unit ranks as North America's largest compounder.