For injection molding electrical accessories like lamp holders, sockets, and power strips, PVC granules must be formulated to meet strict safety, durability, and performance standards. These components require a balance of excellent electrical insulation, flame retardancy, heat resistance, and mechanical strength.

Key Formulation & Performance Requirements

The formulation for these accessories focuses on several non-negotiable safety and performance features:

  • Flame Retardancy & Self-Extinguishing: Electrical components carry a risk of sparking or overheating. The PVC compound must have a high flame-retardant rating (typically UL94 V-0) to prevent the spread of fire, a critical safety standard for consumer and industrial electrical goods.

  • Superior Electrical Insulation: The primary function is to safely insulate live electrical contacts. This requires high volume resistivity and dielectric strength to prevent current leakage or short circuits.

  • Heat Resistance & Thermal Stability: Components must not deform or degrade under the heat generated by electrical currents or from ambient conditions. A high Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) and good long-term thermal aging resistance are essential.

  • Impact Strength & Durability: Sockets and plugs experience physical insertion and removal forces. The material needs good impact resistance (especially at lower temperatures) and tensile strength to withstand daily mechanical stress without cracking.

  • Safe & Compliant Formulation: Modern regulations demand the elimination of hazardous substances. This involves using heavy-metal-free stabilizers (like Calcium-Zinc systems instead of lead-based ones) and ensuring the compound is RoHS and REACH compliant.

Compliance & Your Next Steps

For market access, especially in regions like the EU and North America, your final molded products will need to pass specific safety certifications (such as UL, CE, or CCC). The material’s properties, documented in a Technical Data Sheet (TDS), are the foundation for this.

To proceed effectively, I recommend you:

  1. Consult the Standards: Obtain the specific safety standards (like UL 498 for plugs and sockets or IEC 60884) that apply to your target products and markets. These documents list precise material requirements.

  2. Partner with a Certified Compound Supplier: Work with a reputable PVC compounder who can provide materials with pre-certified UL Yellow Cards or similar documentation, guaranteeing the properties needed for your end-product certification.

  3. Perform End-Product Testing: Even with a certified material, the final injection-molded accessory must be tested and certified as a complete assembly.

I hope this detailed overview provides a strong foundation for your product development. If you have a specific target market or certification in mind, I can help you research more precise requirements.