IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Ticona Launches Vectra(R) TREX(TM) Liquid Crystal Polymer - First LCP Designed for Extrusion and Thermoforming

FLORENCE, Ky., KELSTERBACH, Germany and SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 16, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ticona Engineering Polymers has added a new member to its family of inherently flame resistant liquid crystal polymers (LCP): Vectra TREX LCP is designed for thermal forming processes and offers all the properties this high-performance polymer is known for - high dimensional stability, excellent high-temperature performance and chemical resistance.
/ Source: GlobeNewswire

FLORENCE, Ky., KELSTERBACH, Germany and SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 16, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ticona Engineering Polymers has added a new member to its family of inherently flame resistant liquid crystal polymers (LCP): Vectra® TREX LCP is designed for thermal forming processes and offers all the properties this high-performance polymer is known for — high dimensional stability, excellent high-temperature performance and chemical resistance.

Ticona is showcasing the new Vectra TREX LCP at several conferences and trade shows: 54th Annual IAPD Convention & Expo, Sept. 21 to 24, Indianapolis; SAMPE Fall Technical Conference, Oct. 12-13, Salt Lake City, and K 2010, Ticona Booth, Hall 06/A07 and Hall 06/B07, Oct. 27 to Nov. 3, Dusseldorf, Germany.

"With high melt viscosity and melt strength, this new LCP is ideally suited for extrusion and thermoforming processes," said Edward Hallahan, marketing manager, high performance polymers. "Initially, Ticona is offering a 40 percent mineral filled grade, Vectra TREX 541, which provides impact and notched impact strengths that are significantly higher than those of other mineral-filled grades."

Vectra TREX 541 also provides:

  • High heat deflection temperature (HDT) of 245 degrees Celsius (473 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • 20 percent improvement in impact performance vs. standard 40 percent mineral filled LCP
  • Higher melt viscosity — up to 3-times greater than standard 40 percent mineral filled LCP

Ticona developed Vectra TREX 541 for use by customers who extrude sheets and films that can be thermoformed to finished components. It is ideal for applications in several industries:

  • Medical — For use in sterilizable trays and equipment
  • Aerospace — Meets Flame, Smoke and Toxicity (FST) requirements for use in aircraft interior applications
  • Semiconductor — Provides high stiffness and a low coefficient of thermal expansion for use in chip carriers

Also for Baking and Cooking

Vectra TREX 541 also extends the application possibilities for the kitchenware and food industries. Vectra TREX LCP can be used to produce vacuum-formed large-format sheets or pans that can rapidly heat up and cool down.

"LCPs are ideal for use in high quality, professional cooking and baking applications, whether they are exposed to high operating temperatures of up to 250 degrees Celsius (482 degrees Fahrenheit), deep freezing — shock freezing down to minus 196 degrees Celsius (minus 320.8 degrees Fahrenheit) — or electromagnetic energy in microwave ovens," said Hallahan. "In addition, designers can create products in many colors and shapes with this food-safe plastic."

Kitchen cookware made of LCP are an excellent alternative to baking pans and casseroles made of metal, which are harder to clean, noisy and heavy.

About Ticona

Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, produces and markets a broad range of high performance products, and posted net sales of $808 million in fiscal 2009. Ticona employs more than 1,450 individuals at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany, Brazil and China. For more information, please visit or (Chinese language).

About Celanese

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of specialty materials and chemical products which are used in most major industries and consumer applications. Our products, essential to everyday living, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Known for operational excellence, sustainability and premier safety performance, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had 2009 net sales of $5.1 billion, with approximately 73% generated outside of North America. For more information about Celanese Corporation and its global product offerings, visit .

Vectra is a registered trademark owned by Ticona or its affiliates.

TREX is a trademark owned by Ticona or its affiliates.

CONTACT: Ticona Engineering Polymers Inc. Americas: David Perilstein, Press Relations +1-518-479-7632 Dperilst@nycap.rr.com Robert Shaw, Manager, B2B Marketing Communications +1-859-372-3117 Robert.Shaw@Ticona.com Europe: Henning Kull, Public Relations Manager +49-6107-772-1797 Henning.Kuell@Ticona.de Asia: Amber Zhao, Marketing Communications +86-21-3861-9222 tong.zhao@ticona.com