Cable harnesses are among the most complex assemblies found in electric vehicles. Their numerous connectors not only all have to be marked in different colors to indicate a whole range of functions and support assembly and maintenance, but they also have to be highly flame-retardant and mechanically robust.

With the polyamide 6 compound Durethan BKV30FN04, LANXESS has developed a material for these connectors that has already been tried and tested in numerous series applications – including cable harnesses for electric models produced by a European-US automotive manufacturer. “In contrast to polyamides that are flame-protected with red phosphorous, our halogen-free flame-retardant compound can also be dyed with bright, vivid colors like orange (RAL 2003) and yellow,” says Bernhard Stoll, an expert in the use of plastics in electrical and electronic components at LANXESS.

“The compound and color exhibit a high level of heat stability, which means that the different connectors can be easily and reliably distinguished throughout the vehicle’s entire service life.” The connectors are manufactured by Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics GmbH in Heilbronn, Germany, a subsidiary of the US-based Amphenol Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electrical connectors.

The polyamide 6 compound from LANXESS is characterized by its outstanding flame-retardant properties. In the UL 94 flammability test of the US testing institute Underwriters Laboratories Inc., it achieved the V-0 classification (test body thickness: 0.75 mm). “We have the compounds listed by UL on the Yellow Card under ‘All Colors,’ which also includes colors like yellow, orange and blue. This means that processors will not have to color the product themselves or have the product undergo the time-consuming UL certification process. They can simply use our pre-colored compounds as they are, which helps to cut costs,” says Stoll.

Cable harnesses run along the entire length and width of the vehicle and bundle all the different on-board power supply lines for electric and electronic functions like power converters, battery charging systems, electric drives and infotainment systems. The total length of the cables can reach several kilometers, which is one of the reasons why cable harnesses are so heavy. The complexity of cable harnesses makes them extremely expensive components, which is why the connectors must not break during installation. “Our compound is extremely strong and tough, meaning that the connectors can easily withstand bumps or being dropped,” says Stoll.