Wires and cables just carry the electric current and electric network needs a multitude of electric equipments including:
* Connectors, switches…
* Electric power equipment,
* Motors and controls,
* Measuring and control equipment,
* Lighting and wiring equipment,
* Current-carrying equipment,
* Non-current-carrying wire devices,
* Pole line hardware.
This is an important market needing a subtle balance of electrical and mechanical properties, durability, cost and eventually aesthetics. This broad field creates a harsh competition between engineering thermoplastics and SMC/BMC for the main applications but also polypropylene and polyethylene or PVC for the less performing parts and on the opposite high-tech plastics such as polyetherketone, polyetherimide, liquid crystal polymers…For example:
* Polycarbonates and polyphenylene ethers are used when chemical resistance is not necessary.
* Polyamide is commonly used but its applications are limited by sensitivity to moisture.