Bieglo is seeing inquiries about the product for cable insulation, John Biesterfeld, CEO and founder told Plastics News at Fakuma in Friedrichshafen, Germany. It also received an inquiry from the oil and gas market for high-temperature insulation for downhole equipment and sensor applications.
The extrusion processing of Aurum for wire insulation is economical, a news release said, allowing for thin layers and high elasticity, plus compatibility with cooling and lubricating oils. The polymer has a glass transition temperature of 245°C (473°F).
Because the material can be extruded, it creates a "smooth and homogeneous insulation layer," Biesterfeld said. "It's much better than coating with film."
"We also offer PEEK for this application, but we think Aurum has superior performance," he said. "It's more expensive, [but you really have a huge advantage in the temperature … [Above] 150°C, PEEK starts to lose some insulation properties. It also [gets] a little bit softer. And Aurum is really very, very strong."
In magnet wires for electric engines with high-voltages, "flat wires" are "more practical," for modern engines, Biesterfeld said.
Because of the high expense of the product, "for the mass market cars, they would probably use another material," he said. "But for if you want to make very special, high-end cables or cars, then the Aurum is something people should know about."