Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, caught the eye of China’s automotive industry at Chinaplas 2018 with its ‘warning orange’ low-halogen controlled pigments for colouring high voltage components of electric and hybrid vehicles in line with latest regulations.

As recommended by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) and The German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI), orange has become critical colour coding for identifying high voltage systems. China Highway & Transportation Standard QC/T 1037-2016 also stipulates eye-catching orange for high voltage cables in road vehicles.

Clariant’s high chroma, high performance pigments offer a new low-halogen option for creating the typical strong orange shade for automotive charging cables, connectors, sockets and switches, without noticeable impairment of electrical properties. Importantly, they can support component manufacturers in following the new European regulation for halogen-free electric vehicle charging cables – DIN EN 50620:2017-11.

For electric vehicle charging cables: PV Fast Orange H2GL-LHC is a strong and brilliant pure mid shade orange pigment with high heat and chemical stability that makes it very suitable for commonly-used Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs). Its high colour fastness means that it does not migrate or rub off onto neighboring materials while high lightfastness ensures that the cables remain visible for many years.

For electric vehicle charging sytems: PV Fast Orange 6RL-LHC is a reddish orange pigment ideal for identifying high voltage in electric vehicle charging systems including connectors, sockets and MD switches. It has high heat and chemical stability that makes it suitable for colouring engineering polymers, in particular Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) and Polyamides (PA) used in charging connectors. Furthermore, it has a proven ability to not negatively influence halogen-free flame retardant performance. It achieves UL94 V-0 at 0.8mm with halogen-free flame retardants in engineering plastics and ensures compliance with RoHS 2.0 and IEC 61249-2-21. The colourant has excellent colour- and lightfastness properties.

Jeffrey Wu, Head of RBL Greater China, BU Pigments at Clariant comments: “China has a strong interest in a future of electro-mobility and is investing significantly to answer the demand. Colour coding of electrical cables and charging components is a crucial part of ensuring safe transportation. We are therefore delighted to offer easy, high performance options for achieving the typical high voltage ‘warning orange’ and helping Chinese customers with the development of halogen-free coloured EV charging cables.”

In addition to its ‘warning orange’ shades, Clariant offers its selected high performance PV Fast Pigments with excellent weather-fastness and high chroma. They open up opportunities to create more appealing, colourful Polycarbonate (PC) and Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PC/ABS) housing for electric vehicle charging stations and piles.