Major Appliances

Once you look past the sheet metal skin of a major appliance, you realize how much of its overall appearance and functionality is due to good use of engineering plastics – and many of these plastics come from Ticona.

Celcon® and Hostaform® acetal copolymers (POM) have found use in washing machines, dryers and dishwashers because of their surface hardness, resistance to detergents and staining and dimensional stability over a wide temperature range. These materials are strong and stiff and are easily molded to produce a high gloss surface. They are available in a wide range of standard and custom color-match colors to meet any designer’s requirements.  

When it comes to structural elements such as bases, machine housings and the like, Celanex® polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) is a top-choice material because of its strength and stiffness and higher temperature capability. This last property is important in oven handles and control knobs. Many Celanex resins are available with V-0 ratings in the Underwriters Laboratories UL94 test, making them good candidates for support of current-carrying parts, motor components and switches. Ticona’s extensive color match capabilities are also available in Celanex resin grades.

Where impact resistance is the key property, designers call on Vandar® polyester alloys. Combining both stiffness and toughness, Vandar grades are a good choice for lids and covers because they can also be molded with the good finish required for such parts. Because of their basic polyester nature, they share in the excellent chemical resistance of Celanex PBT so they can continue looking good despite spills of bleaches or cleaners. If needed, Vandar polyester alloy technology is also available with a UL94 V-0 rating.

As Fortron® PPS has high strength and very good resistance to chemicals, hydrolysis and high temperature, as well as being inherently flame-resistant, it is an excellent material for different parts in major appliances. Special Fortron grades are also approved for food contact applications.

For a very low imbalance in combination with high rigidity and a low warpage, consider using Celstran® long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (LFRT).