TAGS: Automotive Electrical & Electronics
SABIC introduces two new radar absorbing LNP™ STAT-KON™ compounds for automotive radar sensors, significantly expanding its portfolio of these specialty materials. The new grades, based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin, may be used for integration with radomes manufactured using PBT material, which can provide superior resistance to automotive chemicals.
They complement and extend SABIC’s existing radar absorbing LNP™ STAT-KON™ compounds, which are based on polyetherimide (PEI) resin for withstanding higher processing temperatures or on polycarbonate (PC) resin for general applications that require high durability and a balance of physical properties.
Increased Detection Range and Signal Resolution
The high radio frequency (RF) absorption of these compounds can help increase detection range and improve signal resolution. Through materials innovation, SABIC is contributing to the growth of automotive radar and the design of next-generation sensors.
Radar sensors are widely used in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), where they provide capabilities such as blind spot detection, collision avoidance, automatic braking and traffic alerts. Radar absorbing materials (RAM) are used to shield the field of radar wave transmission and attenuate side waves that can cause ghost images or trigger false actions or alarms. A broader choice of radar absorbing LNP™ STAT-KON™ compounds can help manufacturers to increase flexibility in sensor positioning and function and to help design sensors that can be optimized for vehicle size and other variables.
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Radar sensors are a critical component of the ADAS suite, in part because they can operate in conditions such as poor visibility that impair LiDAR and camera functioning,” said Jeff Xu, LNP™ product manager, SABIC.
“To support technology advancement in the radar sensor market, which is rapidly growing, SABIC continues to develop specialty materials that can enhance sensor accuracy and reliability. Our growing portfolio of LNP™ compounds offers high absorption of radar waves as well as potential cost benefits compared to radar absorbing materials designed for military applications.”
Supporting Global Growth of Automotive Radar
Novel materials are contributing to the growth trajectory of automotive radar market by improving sensor performance. SABIC’s new PBT-based LNP™ STAT-KON™ compounds deliver an RF absorption of 67 percent at 77GHz, which could allow for increased ADAS functionality for the automobile. To keep pace with rapid advancements in radar sensors, SABIC is developing additional grades that are either based on new resins or have higher radar absorbing properties.
SABIC offers extensive expertise in material development and a deep understanding of how radar units are designed and should perform in the automotive environment. The company also has access to innovative dielectric property tests and measurements in a wide range of frequencies, as well as modeling tools capable of performing simulations to help radar sensor manufacturers and automotive OEMs optimize system design and integration.
Source: SABIC