伊士曼Eastar PCT副牌,电子连接器为什么过不了那道回流焊?

产品中心 发布时间: 2026-09-13 1991 阅读

At three in the afternoon, the workshop supervisor threw a basket of connectors onto the purchasing desk: 'The materials you brought in develop pinholes after reflow soldering, and the inspections from the customer were all rejected.'

When the buyer picked up the bag of materials and saw PCT written on it, he felt a jolt in his heart—these materials aren't cheap, so how could there still be an issue?

The problem isn't complicated: he thought he was buying heat-resistant PCT, but the material he got couldn't withstand the reflow soldering temperature at all. PCT is a niche heat-resistant material used in electronic connectors, and today I'll explain it thoroughly.

1. What is PCT, and where do foreign big companies rank

PCT, scientifically known as polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate, is the 'heat-resistant enhanced version' of PET — replacing ethylene glycol with CHDM, its melting point and heat resistance are raised significantly, can withstand 260℃ during reflow soldering, and electronic connectors, sockets, and lamp holders all rely on it.

The global PCT market is a very small niche, and the top tier abroad is very concentrated. Eastman is the pioneer, first developed by Eastman Kodak in the 1950s, the Eastar PCT series; SK Chemicals of South Korea's SKYPURA is the second, with grades 0302, 0502, 1631 used for electronics and heat-resistant parts; Celanese's Thermx is the third. Solvay's Syensqo Lavanta is also in this market.

To put it plainly, abroad, PCT is basically controlled by just Eastman, SK Chemicals, and Celanese. When buying secondary brands, the main ones purchased are the original materials from Eastar and SKYPURA systems, where the indicators fluctuate slightly.

2. What exactly is the origin of the PCT sub-brand?

▍PCT's sub-brand makes electronic connectors. When passing through the reflow soldering, solder comes out through the vias, and an entire batch of connectors is scrapped on the spot.

Let's first define it clearly: a secondary brand refers to the portion of products from the same manufacturer and the same brand number that did not fully meet the technical specifications of the main brand during factory inspection. For the same batch of copolymers, if all inspections pass and the main brand label is applied, but some individual indicators are slightly off, they are considered the secondary brand.

The four main sources of PCT by-products: head and tail materials when equipment is started or stopped, transition materials during grade switching, batches with slightly exceeded melt index or crystallization rate, and tail materials from secondary lines.

The key point is—it is still original factory native polyester pellets, with molecular structure identical to the genuine brand, only the melt index, crystallization rate, and precipitation indicators fluctuate slightly. It is not recycled material re-pelletized.

Clearly define the boundaries:

TypeSourceQualityTypical uses
Authentic brandOriginal factory standard batchMelting point, precipitation, and melt index all meet the standardsPass through reflow soldering connectors, certified heat-resistant parts
Side dishOriginal factory substandard batchIndividual indicators slightly deviate, substrate is consistentGeneral connectors, heat-resistant internal components
Recycled material / Sprue materialProcessing scrap material into regranulateHave eaten hot history onceLow-demand products
Recycled materialRecycled Plastic PelletizingPrecipitation disorder, excessive welding easily causes pinholeslow-end filler

PCT makes connectors, and the reflow soldering temperature is the red line. If a secondary brand cannot withstand the heat, it will bubble as soon as it is soldered, and the electronic components will be ruined.

3. Eastman: The Pioneer of PCT

The first company is Eastman, USA. PCT was first developed by Eastman Kodak in the 1950s, starting with Kodel II. Eastar PCT is the current main product.

Its sub-brand mainly fluctuates in melt index and crystallization speed. If the melt index is slightly off, the filling of thin-walled connectors will be different; if the crystallization speed varies a bit, the molding cycle and dimensions will change.

Eastman’s sub-brand products come in both large and small packages, directly from the original factory with the original packaging, and the batch number can be traced. Factories that produce general connectors and heat-resistant internal components can use the selected sub-brand to replace the main brand, reducing costs significantly while maintaining heat resistance without deviation.

4. SK Chemicals: SKYPURA's Electronic Route

The second one is SK Chemicals from South Korea.

SKYPURA is its PCT brand. The general-purpose grades include 0302, 0502, and 1631, while the glass fiber reinforced grades include 7111F and 7121F. They are used in electronic connectors and heat-resistant parts, featuring high heat resistance and low dielectric constant.

SK's PCT sub-brand has low precipitation and is suitable for making connectors. If you encounter it, make sure it is from the original SK factory and check the batch number and place of production.

5. Ceranis: Thermx's Heat-Resistant Components

The third company, Celanese, USA. Thermx is its PCT brand, making heat-resistant parts for automobiles and electronics. Lavanta from Solvay's Syensqo is also in this tier.

To be blunt, internationally, only Eastman, SK, and Celanese are really holding PCT. Before buying, first recognize the system; don’t try to pass off PET or PBT as PCT to fool anyone—the reflow soldering temperature is quite different, and you'll be exposed as soon as you try it.

6. Buying PCT sub-brands, first mark out the four pitfalls

After talking about the big picture, let's go over a few pitfalls that people really fall into.

First, don't pass off PBT as PCT. PBT cannot withstand the heat of reflow soldering at 260℃ and will deform as soon as it is soldered, and the workers will think that the mold is not adjusted properly.

Second, look at the melting point and heat distortion temperature. Connectors need to go through reflow soldering; if a secondary brand's melting point is insufficient, don't use it, as it will bubble as soon as it's soldered.

Third, look at the melt flow index and crystallization speed. The filling and molding cycle of thin-walled connectors depends on it; if it drifts even a little, there will be insufficient material.

Fourth, test for precipitation and pinholes first. Electronic components are sensitive to precipitation; have the secondary brand go through a round of reflow soldering first. If no pinholes appear, then proceed to mass production.

Cologne Warehouse Stock | PCT Group Order

Main recommended brands: Eastman, SK Chemicals, Celanese.

Main grades: Eastar PCT, SKYPURA (0302/0502/1631), Thermx.

Packaging specifications: Small-pack secondary brands and boxed secondary brands use small packaging, large-pack materials/ton bags use ton bags, and are packaged and stocked according to workshop usage.

Warehouse stock: PCT warehouse stock is usually around 4,000 tons, among which small package secondary brand stock is 600-900 tons, boxed secondary brand stock is 250-450 tons, and large package/material in tons stock is 2,650-3,150 tons.

Supply Assurance: Test reports accompany the goods, COA travels with the shipment.

7. Selection Mnemonics and a Case from Zhaoqing

Here are a few selection mnemonics for you:

1. Check the difference — don't mix PCT and PBT; use PCT for reflow soldering;

2. Check melting point and heat deformation — can withstand 260°C reflow soldering, if not, don't use;

3. Check melt flow index and crystallization — for thin-wall connectors, make sure the melt index matches the mold;

4. Check the soldering test — try a batch on reflow first, if no pinholes appear, then move to mass production.

Here’s a real story. A customer in Zhaoqing who makes electronic connectors previously bought a batch of uncertain 'PCT' materials for the sake of saving money. During reflow soldering, pinholes appeared across the board, resulting in an entire tray of connectors being scrapped and a return rate of 20%. Later, they switched to Eastman Eastar system original PCT substitutes. After matching melting point and crystallization, the pinhole rate after reflow soldering dropped to below 0.2%, and first-pass yield increased from 70% to 98%.

This shows the value of material selection — for PCT, saving material costs is one thing, but you can't risk connectors developing pinholes during soldering. Ningbo Kolon New Materials Co., Ltd. has been making imported engineering plastic substitutes for years and handles similar cases every year. Simply put, they help you smooth out the reflow soldering phase before mass production.

Sources and Data

1. SK Chemicals official website, 'SKYPURA PCT' product page (grades 0302/0502/1631, CHDM-based super engineering plastics), skchemicals.com, verification date 2026-09-14.

2. Find Out About Plastics, 'PCT Suppliers / Trade Names' (Syensqo-Lavanta, Celanese-Thermx, Eastman-Eastar, SK-SkyPURA), findoutaboutplastics.com, verification date 2026-09-14.

3. Chemical Research Insight, 'Top 10 Companies in the PCT Market 2026' (Eastman's position in the PCT market), chemicalresearchinsight.com, verification date 2026-09-14.

4. Biesterfeld, 'PCT Skypura Glass-Fiber Reinforced Grades Physical Properties Table', biesterfeld.com, verification date 2026-09-14.

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