SABIC to launch non-fluorinated resin blends for wires & cables at IWCS 2025
Last update on Sep 30, 2025
SABIC will feature at the 2025 IWCS Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum, in Booth #230, three new families of non-fluorinated SILTEM™ resin blends.
These novel materials can potentially replace fluoropolymers such as ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in wire & cable applications used in the automotive, industrial, and oil & gas industries. The SABIC materials help to address regulatory restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a broad category that includes fluoropolymers.
Easier processing with enhanced thermal and chemical resistance
In addition to being formulated without fluorine, the new blends build on the properties of SILTEM™ polyetherimide/siloxane (PEI-Si) copolymer resin to deliver easier processing and enhanced performance, such as better thermal and chemical resistance. The new SILTEM™ resin blends may also be candidates for strain reliefs, data cables, heat tracing cables and automotive under-hood wiring. Beyond wire & cable, they have potential for use in seals, gaskets and heat-shrink tubes, for which the material can be crosslinked to meet “shape memory” requirements. They are available for sampling.
At IWCS, Sean Culligan, senior manager, ULTEM™ and NORYL™ Resins, will present on “Polyetherimide (PEI)-Siloxane Copolymers as an Alternative to Fluoropolymers” during Session 9 of the Technical Symposium, which will run from 8:30 to 11:50 a.m. EDT on Oct. 30.
“Many wire & cable customers are looking for alternatives to fluoropolymers that address regulatory concerns and strict performance requirements,” said Sergi Monros, vice president, SABIC Polymers, Specialties BU. “Our new SILTEM™ resin blends address growing demands for materials that avoid fluorine while raising the bar on performance and processing.”
The IWCS 2025 event will take place in Pittsburgh, Penn., Oct. 27-30.