Hella Turns to Vectra® LCP for Auto Distance Sensor Cover
Sensor Expo, Rosemont, Ill., June 12, 2007 - When Hella, a major automotive supplier based in Lippstadt, Germany, developed a new lane-change assistance system to help prevent dangerous traffic situations, it adopted Vectra® liquid crystal polymer (LCP) for the cover plate protecting the sensitive distance sensors at the heart of the system to ensure they function reliability.
The LCP, which is made by Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, provides minimal warpage after processing and is dimensionally stable, so it creates a flat, thin-walled cover that does not deflect radar beams. This polymer also has high thermal stability, impact strength and chemical resistance and is inherently flame retardant.
The radar-based system contains two 24-GHz sensors that detect other road users behind and near a vehicle and warns the driver of their presence.
The sensors' "vision" is unaffected by darkness, dirt or weather conditions. At high vehicle speeds, system range can be increased from 50 meters to 120 meters using a third 24-GHz sensor. The system aims to avert accidents that can occur when drivers fail to notice rapidly approaching vehicles soon enough or vehicles hidden in the blind spots present in most cars.
Vectra LCP offers continuous use temperatures to 240°C (464°F) and withstands excursions to 340°C (644°F). It also has extremely low melt viscosity, high impact strength, inherent flame retardancy and flash-free injection molding. It is used in demanding applications in the electrical, electronic, automotive, telecommunications, chemical processing, medical device and many other markets.
For more information
For more information on Vectra LCP, contact: Ticona, 8040 Dixie Highway, Florence, KY 41042, USA. Phone: 1-800-833-4882. Email: prodinfo@ticona.com. In Europe: Ticona GmbH, Professor-Staudinger-Strabe, D-65451 Kelsterbach, Germany. Phone: +49-(0)180-584-2662 (DE) or +49-(0)693-051-6299 (EU). Email: infoservice@ticona.de. Or visit: www.ticona.com.
About Ticona and Celanese
Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, produces and markets a broad range of high performance products , and achieved net sales of $915 million in 2006. Ticona employs approximately 2,000 individuals at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany and Brazil. For more information, please visit www.ticona.com.
As a global leader in the chemicals industry, Celanese Corporation makes products essential to everyday living. Our products, found in consumer and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Net sales totaled $6.7 billion in 2006, with over 60% generated outside of North America. Known for operational excellence and execution of its business strategies, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with innovations and best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 8,900 employees worldwide. For more information on Celanese Corporation, please visit the company's website at
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