Laser platable thermoplastic compositions with good flame retardancy, high heat property and good ductility and shaped articles made therefrom
A thermoplastic composition includes a polyarylene ether component, a flame retardant additive, an impact modifier, and a laser direct structuring additive. The laser platable thermoplastic composition is capable of being plated after being activated using a laser, exhibits a plating index of greater than 0.8 when tested using X-ray fluorescence, and exhibits a heat deflection temperature of greater than 150° C. at 0.45 MPa/3.2 mm when tested in accordance with ASTM D648. In further aspects, the thermoplastic composition may further comprise a laser direct structuring additive synergist comprising a polysiloxane, a polysilane, or a silane.
1. A laser platable thermoplastic composition comprising:
a polyarylene ether component comprising a polyarylene ether siloxane copolymer or a polyphenyl ether siloxane copolymer;
a laser direct structuring additive;
a flame retardant additive comprising bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BPADP) or phenoxyphosphazene (PPZ); and
an impact modifier comprising a styrene-based copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene ethylene butylene styrene copolymer (SEBS), styrene butadiene styrene (SBS), styrene ethylene propylene styrene (SEPS) and combinations thereof;
wherein the laser platable thermoplastic composition is capable of being plated after being activated using a laser, and
wherein the laser platable thermoplastic composition exhibits a heat deflection temperature of greater than 150° C. at 0.45 MPa/3.2 mm when tested in accordance with ASTM D648.
2. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , further comprising a laser direct structuring synergist.
3. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 2 , wherein the laser direct structuring synergist comprises an inorganic filler or a siloxane-based polymer.
4. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyarylene ether component comprises a polyarylene ether, a polyarylene ether copolymer, or a combination thereof.
5. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , wherein the impact modifier has a viscosity of less than 3 grams per 10 minutes at 230° C./5 kilograms, when tested in accordance with ASTM D1238.
6. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , wherein the impact modifier is styrene ethylene butylene styrene copolymer having a viscosity less than 3 grams per 10 minutes at 230° C./5 kilograms, when tested in accordance with ASTM D1238.
7. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , wherein the laser direct structuring additive is a metal compound comprising heavy metal mixed oxide spinel, copper salt or combination thereof.
8. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 7 , wherein the heavy metal mixed oxide spinel is a copper chromite black spinel.
9. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 7 , wherein the copper salt is a copper hydroxide phosphate.
10. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a stabilizer selected from magnesium oxide, zinc sulfide, phosphite and combination thereof.
11. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 1 wherein laser direct structuring synergist comprises a polysiloxane, a silane, a polysilane, or a combination thereof.
12. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises:
from 50 wt. % to 90 wt. % of the polyarylene ether component;
from 0.01 wt. % to 20 wt. % of the laser direct structuring additive;
from 0.01 wt. % to 15 wt. % of the flame retardant; and
from 0.01 wt. % to 20 wt. % of the impact modifier.
13. The laser platable thermoplastic composition of claim 12 , wherein the impact modifier is present in an amount of from 5 wt. % to 15 wt. % relative to the total weight of the composition.