LATI
LATI publishes its new technical brochure on thermoplastic compounds for vehicle electrification
Flame-retardant, thermally conductive, EMI-shielding and lower-impact materials collected in a new tool dedicated to the design of electrified vehicles Vedano Olona (VA), 8 September 2026 – Vehicle electrification is profoundly changing the requirements for plastic materials used in the automotive industry. Higher voltages and power densities, the growing presence of electronics and sensors, thermal management needs, and the requirement to reduce weight and environmental impact are expanding the role of engineering thermoplastics in the design of next-generation vehicles.
17th, August 2026
To provide designers, OEMs, Tier Suppliers and R&D managers with an updated overview of available solutions, LATI has published its new technical brochure, “Thermoplastic compounds for vehicle electrification”, dedicated to compounds developed for applications related to electric mobility and the evolution of the automotive sector.
The publication brings together in a single document several families of materials developed to meet the main technical requirements of electrification: electrical safety and fire behaviour, high-temperature resistance, heat management, electromagnetic compatibility, friction and wear reduction, and carbon footprint reduction.
Particular attention is given to HFFR flame-retardant compounds, intended for applications where the management of high voltages and currents requires materials capable of combining electrical insulation, flame resistance and long-term stability. The brochure presents solutions based on different polymer matrices, from polyamides to PBT, PPA and PPS, with properties developed according to the expected operating conditions. A specific topic also concerns the identification of high-voltage components through orange colouring. For these applications, colour stability during thermal ageing becomes an integral part of component safety, preventing changes that could compromise the visual recognisability of HV systems throughout the vehicle’s service life.
For applications characterised by particularly high temperatures, the brochure explores solutions based on high-performance polymers such as PPA, PPS, PSU, PESU, PPSU and PEEK, developed to operate under conditions that may exceed the limits of conventional engineering polyamides. Thermal management is another central element in electrification. The LATICONTHER range includes thermally conductive compounds capable of reaching values of up to 28 W/mK, giving designers the possibility to transfer heat through plastic components and, in selected applications, evaluate alternatives to traditional metal parts.
Alongside thermal conductivity, the increasing density of electronic systems makes protection against electromagnetic interference increasingly important. LATISHIELD materials are developed to provide EMI shielding properties through the use of specific conductive fillers, with shielding levels ranging from 30 to 90 dB within the interval indicated in the technical documentation.
The new brochure also includes LATILUB formulations for tribological applications, designed to control friction and wear and, where possible, reduce or eliminate the need for external lubrication, also through the adoption of PFAS-free formulations.
Vehicle electrification also places the reduction of the environmental impact of materials at the centre of development. The section dedicated to the LATIECO range presents compounds containing raw materials from chemical and mechanical recycling, including flame-retardant and thermally conductive materials developed to combine performance requirements with carbon footprint reduction.
The publication also includes information on materials approved for automotive suppliers and on LATI’s quality system, certified according to IATF 16949, together with the support services offered during application development: co-design, FEM simulations, moulding assistance, development of dedicated formulations, and support in certification and compliance processes.
"Electrification is significantly expanding the number of functions that plastic materials must perform inside the vehicle. It is no longer only a matter of lightweighting or metal replacement, but also of electrical safety, thermal management, electromagnetic shielding, high-temperature resistance and reduced environmental impact. With this new brochure, we wanted to bring together in a single technical tool the main LATI solution dedicated to these requirements, in order to support designers and R&D managers in selecting the most suitable material for each specific application,”
commented Luca Posca, Group Technical Assistance & Marketing Director at LATI.
With the new brochure “Thermoplastic compounds for vehicle electrification”, LATI therefore provides the automotive value chain with a technical tool designed to support material selection according to the specific requirements of electrified applications, from electrical safety and thermal management to sustainability.
About LATI
LATI Industria Termoplastici S.p.A. develops and manufactures high-performance engineering thermoplastic compounds for major industrial sectors. Founded in Italy in 1945, the company operates two production plants and distributes its materials across the main international markets. The portfolio includes reinforced, flame-retardant, thermally conductive, self-lubricating and EMI-shielding engineering thermoplastics, as well as formulations based on recycled raw materials. LATI supports customers from material selection to application validation through research and development, co-design, simulation, moulding support and certification assistance.
