Product category: Circuit Protection Devices
News Release from: Tyco Electronics - Wire, Harness and Protection | Subject: Miniature relays
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 21 September 2000
Temperature-resistant Zenite for
miniature relays
For the non-metallic parts of its P1 and P2 miniature relays Tyco Electronics and its contract moulder EBK-Kruger use DuPont's temperature-resistant Zenite 7130 liquid-crystal polymer
For the non-metallic parts of its P1 and P2 miniature relays Tyco Electronics and its contract moulder EBK-Kruger use DuPont's high-performance, temperature-resistant Zenite 7130 liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) Infra-red soldering during manufacture exposes miniature relays of this kind to temperatures of up to 260C
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 20 Sep 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Seal connectors against moisture and corrosion
Rayolon sealing sleeve is a re-usable, heavy-duty sleeve that offers the solution for sealing connectors and splices against moisture and corrosion
Heatshrinkable fabric has fast shrink ability
Raychem HFT 5000 heatshrinkable fabric tubing features low shrink temperature characteristics to reduce installation time and enable fabric tubing protection on to heat sensitive materials
The P1 relays, made for Tyco Electronics by custom moulder EBK-Krger GmbH at Teltow, near Berlin, are one-changeover relays in pin-mounted and surface- mounted versions.
The P2 two-changeover type is made by Tyco in Trudnov, Czech Republic.
The individual parts inside these relays, such as coil cores, yokes and armatures, measure only a few millimetres across.
Further reading
Backshell gives 360deg EMI termination protection
Tyco Electronics Corporation has introduced Raychem HexaShield - an innovative, lightweight, high performance EMI shielded backshell that offers benefits over traditional termination methods
Databus networks in parts or assembled
Tyco Electronics offers customers a single source supply opportunity for MIL-STD-1553B Databus networks, with its extensive range of Raychem components and ready-assembled harnesses.
The coil form in the type P2, for example, weighs only 0.38 grammes, including the sprue.
In spite of their small size, however, these components fulfil many different functions.
This high degree of functionality within a small space calls for flash-free injection-moulded parts with thin walls.
At the same time the strength and stiffness of these tiny parts must be high enough to withstand mechanical loads during switching operations.
Angelo Polese, of Tyco Electronics's Advanced Engineering group, explains that the most important consideration for an application like this is the material's thermal resistance.
"That's because these parts are exposed to high temperatures during soldering, and they also heat up in operation," he says.
"However, to eliminate the possibility of malfunctions, we need a whole set of properties.
Apart from an ability to withstand high temperatures, the plastic must have high dimensional stability, a low coefficient of thermal expansion and low warpage.
Moreover, it must not have a tendency to outgas, because outgassing could cause corrosion and produce deposits on contact surfaces." After testing several competitive resins, Tyco Electronics chose DuPont's Zenite 7130 for the injection-moulded plastics parts of both relay types.
"This 30 per cent glass-fibre-reinforced LCP is suitable for use with all SMD assembly techniques," Polese confirms.
"Zenite continues to meet all our requirements, even after 15 million switching cycles." All versions of Tyco Electronics' P1 and P2 relays are suitable for a broad range of switching functions.
With a footprint of only about 1 cm2 they have been optimised for space-saving use on circuit boards.
Typical applications for these metal-and-plastic composite relays are in communications technology, measurement and control functions, as well as in automotive engineering and consumer electronics. Request a free brochure from Tyco Electronics - Wire, Harness and Protection ...
• Tyco Electronics - Wire, Harness and Protection: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
