NEC to Recycle Flame-Retarding PC-Silicone Mix

Comline Computers, Oct 8, 1999

NEC has begun studying specific ways to reuse a new, environmentally-friendly flame-retarding resin to which the company holds basic patent rights, reflecting the resin's growing application to personal computers and related equipment.

The resin, called Nucycle, reportedly preserves its basic properties even after being molten five times.

In place of halogen and phosphorous flame retardants, Nucycle features highly flame-retarding silicone mixed uniformly with a polycarbonate (PC) which possesses many aromatic rings. The product was realized by applying the idea of incorporating large quantities of aromatic rings into silicone.

NEC consigns the manufacture of Nucycle to Sumitomo Dow (production capacity: 80 t/m) using silicone supplied by GE Toshiba Silicone and several other firms. Demand for the product is growing because in addition to NEC, IBM Japan is adopting the resin for its personal computer housings.

Ref: Japan Chemical Week, 10/07/99, p. 14