PC/ABS Blend Provides a Recyclable, Economical and Thermoformable Solution for Parts Requiring Flame Retardancy at UL 94 V-0 at 1.5mm

August 31, 2010 - Pittsburg, PA - The BreezeDry is an advanced drying appliance that offers a gentle, eco-friendly alternative to traditional dryers. The appliance, roughly 6 x 4 x 2 feet, is designed to use indoor or outdoor air to dry clothes by hanging them or laying them on racks in the cabinet.



Makers of the BreezeDry appliance needed to find just the right material to bring the crispness of air-dried clothes indoors without the stiffness of a clothesline or the shrinkage and damage associated with traditional clothes dryers.

The combination of heat deflection, UL flame rating and eco-friendly characteristics provided by Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s Bayblend® FR3030 polycarbonate/ acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS) blend fit the bill.

“We selected the plastic because it was the only material that achieved the UL flame rating necessary for the application,” said Brad Grimm, design engineer for Grimm Brothers Corporation, which does the thermoforming, trimming, secondary operations and assembly for the BreezeDry. “The material demonstrated a repeatable thermoforming process and provided a good surface appearance.”

Bayblend® FR3030 PC/ABS blend is utilized in a 10.62 x 11.87 x 1 inch bezel for the BreezeDry’s internal fan components. The PC/ABS blend provides a recyclable, economical and thermoformable solution for parts requiring flame retardancy at UL 94 V-0 at 1.5mm and a high heat deflection of 222 degrees F at 66 pounds per square inch. The material met an even higher requirement for this application – UL 94 5-VA at 3.0mm. And because the PC/ABS blend has to carry the weight of the fan, the material’s strength is another key attribute, Grimm said.

“The material has very good thermoforming characteristics, and its properties provide high-impact resistance, stiffness and rigidity, good grain texture and retention,” said Mike Ringquist, sales manager, Allen Extruders LLC. Allen Extruders is a U.S.-based manufacturer of proprietary and non-proprietary thermoplastic sheet products, which produces and supplies thermoplastic sheets to Grimm Brothers.

The BreezeDry also offers high energy efficiency. It uses 90 percent less electricity than a typical dryer and is made of 30-35 percent recycled materials. Like the BreezeDry, Bayblend® FR3030 plastic is environmentally friendly, too. The material is halogen free and meets Blue Angel and RoHS requirements. (RoHS stands for restrictions of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.)

“Bayblend® FR3030 resin was developed for the ever-increasing need to provide environmentally sustainable engineering thermoplastics for the extrusion and thermoforming marketplace,” said Andrew Caldwell, NAFTA Extrusion Marketing Manager, Bayer MaterialScience LLC. “We remain committed to the marketplace to provide innovative products which meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,300 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2009 sales of 7.5 billion euros. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment.