Engineering Resins for Consumer Electronics and More Feature Unique Colors & Special Effects

The latest LNP VisualFX resin portfolio of specialty PC-based copolymers and blends, including modified PBT compounds from SABIC feature unique colors and special effects from the company’s new Expression 2021/2022 color palette, developed through research on emerging aesthetic trends. Designers and engineers in the Color, Material and Finish (CMF) field can find inspiration within this portfolio from the consumer preferences revealed through this research, for new 5G-enabled mobile devices and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

SABIC’s LNP VisualFX resins are formulated with the rich color and effect inherent in the pellet, enabling customers to create colorful and distinctive parts while avoiding the environmental impact, time and costs of secondary painting. Communicating the themes from the company’s Expression 2021/2022 program, the new LNP VisualFX  portfolio captures the look and feel of today’s hottest design trends, from retro to futuristic, and from edgy to gentle. The six Expression 2021/2022 themes are:

 ▪  Time’s Echo – Retro colors characterized by medium brightness and high chroma evoke nostalgia, creating a link between the past and the present. They give new life to classical elements and permit elegance to speak for itself.

 ▪  Iridescence – Ethereal rainbow colors and delicate luster produce futuristic and surreal impressions. They symbolize the way technology enables us to switch among virtual worlds, imagined worlds and reality.

 ▪  Sweet Neon – Fluorescent colors generate a sense of energy and excitement that appeals to young people who are digital natives. They help product designs stand out on screen and in real life.

Moment – Rich, classic hues elicit feelings of calmness and appeal to the desire to experience beauty in a tangible way. Metallic textures complement and enhance both dark and light colors.

 ▪  Re-Blossom – Medium-bright, high chroma colors convey joyfulness and friendliness. They also represent a dramatic change in people’s values, which are shifting from luxury and consumption to environmental protection and work-life balance.

 ▪  Natural Therapies – Soft hues reminiscent of natural landscapes counter the coldness of technology. These colors lend themselves to sustainable, recyclable materials and demonstrate the power of nature to relax and refresh.

Each of the Expression themes encompass six colors, which can be enhanced with a variety of special effects, from Luster to Sparkle to Illuminate (edge glow) and many more.

Moreover, the Re-Blossom and Natural Therapies themes are offered in sustainable materials. Re-Blossom grades include a compound based on PC resins with post-consumer recycle (PCR) content; an impact-modified, non-halogenated flame-retardant PC/ABS blend containing PCR; and an upcycled PBT compound containing SABIC’s LNP Elcrin iQ resin. LNP Elcrin iQ resins are produced by chemically upcycling consumer-discarded PET water bottles into higher-value PBT materials. Natural Therapies products include PC/siloxane copolymer resins with excellent impact and up to 80% PCR content.

In addition to bold, beautiful colors and stunning effects, LNP VisualFX materials deliver outstanding performance. For instance, EXL PC copolymers feature high impact resistance, making them appropriate for consideration in applications such as housings and decorative parts for consumer electronics and home appliances, cosmetic packaging and automotive interior trim components. SABIC’s SLX PC copolymers offer excellent chemical and scratch resistance in addition to impact strength.

Said Joshua Chiaw, SABIC’s director of business management for LNP & Noryl specialties,  “Our LNP VisualFX resins can help customers achieve success through the creative use of colors and special effects, while also reducing their carbon footprint and evoking a sense of brightness during these challenging times. To keep our portfolio aligned with current and upcoming aesthetic trends, SABIC has enhanced our array of base resins with new grades, primarily focused on recycled and upcycled polymers. Customers can be confident that LNP VisualFX resins are at the forefront of style, performance and sustainability.”