A well recognized Japanese manufacturer of PC video display unit has recently developed a flame retardant PC compound for injection molding of video display units. This compound uses fly ash, a by-product of thermal power plants, predominantly used to manufacture cement so far. Due to its low cost, the resultant PC compound is economical and can meet all the flame retardant requirements for this application.

The fly ash boasts a high level of flame resistance necessary for housing plastics in electronic products such as in PCs, without the addition of toxic materials like halogen compounds that are conventionally found in housing plastics. Use of fly ash results in a reduction in material costs, promotion of environment protection (thanks to safety measures regarding the elimination of the use of halogen compounds) and a reduction in manufacturing energy consumption.

This research provides an environmentally friendly flame resistant polycarbonate resin that can be used in desktop electronic equipment, through :
The optimization of the added volume and particle size of the fly ash, as well as the original composition of additives including a fluidity-enhancing agent, along with the ability to control the decrease of the strength and fluidity of the polycarbonate resin when the fly ash is added.

In addition to the elimination of the use of toxic materials and a reduction in manufacturing energy consumption, the flame resistant polycarbonate resin realizes a reduction in basic material costs, contributing to the expansion of the spread of environmentally friendly materials.
NEC is strengthening its R&D in this field toward practical use of the new material in housings of electronic products in the Japan market within 2005.