Application

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Fire and flame retardant minerals for wire and cable

UltraCarb is a unique halogen-free fire retardant while our ATH is compatible with many polymer types and provides fire retardancy and smoke suppression.

The cable and wire industry uses both UltraCarb and ATH (Aluminium Hydroxide) &#; The combination is the difference

UltraCarb is a unique halogen-free fire retardant as it acts differently to traditional fire retardants, which release water in a single action phase. Upon decomposition, UltraCarb provides:

1. classical endothermic fire retardant functionality
2. PLUS it releases carbon dioxide
3. PLUS it provides char stabilisation.

We call this the three-stage fire retardant mechanism. This multi-process fire retardancy offered by UltraCarb:

• releases water at approximately 220°C
• releases carbon dioxide at about 450°C
• and finally, formats the char stabilisation.

This extended fire retardant activity range is what makes UltraCarb so unique.

UltraCarb is:

• halogen-free
• versatile
• effective
• cost efficient

We manufacture our unique UltraCarb product range from our own Turkish source of Hydromagnesite and Huntite.

The classic fire retardant

ATH is used in many different applications such as:

• glass-reinforced plastic (GRP)
• rubber carpet backing
• latex flexible foams
• thermoplastics
• thermosets
• elastomers

ATH is compatible with a wide range of polymer types and provides the final product with fire retardancy and smoke suppression. When you expose the ATH filled polymer to fire, it will reduce further combustion and flame spread.

Polymer knowledge is key

At LKAB Minerals, we have an in-depth understanding of the incorporation of UltraCarb and ATH into the polymer matrix to receive the best results possible. In cooperation with partners from the wire and cable industry, we continuously develop our products to make dispersion within the polymer successful. But it&#;s not all about the product development; it is also about the exact process set up to receive a well-dispersed polymer.

Please get in touch with your local sales manager. We are looking forward to finding the best solution for your wire and cable product.

Flame retardant cable type performance and advantages

Ordinary flame retardant wire and cable

Ordinary flame-retardant wire and cable insulation and sheathing materials are generally made of halogen-containing (or modified with halogen-containing flame retardants) polymer materials, the most commonly used is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials. 

Ordinary PVC resin has extremely high electrical insulation, chemical resistance, wear resistance, aging resistance, and low price. 

It has become the most used cable material in China, but it releases hydrogen chloride when it burns. 

Toxic and harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, various aromatic hydrocarbons, and chlorine-containing compounds.

Low smoke type flame retardant wire and cable

Low-smoke type flame-retardant wire and cable can be added with inorganic hydroxide flame retardants such as aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide in the insulation and sheath material. 

The flame retardant principle is the principle of condensed phase flame retardant: 

Aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide are thermally decomposed to release moisture while absorbing heat reduces the actual temperature of the insulation and sheath material, inhibits the decomposition of the material, and releases the combustible gas. 

The resulting metal oxide is a refractory material, and covering the surface of the material can improve the ability of the insulation and the sheath to resist the flame, and the purpose of isolating the air from combustion. 

The advantages of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide as flame retardants are as follows: 

Non-toxic, non-volatile, inexpensive, flame retardant, and smoke-free. However, it has poor compatibility with the matrix resin. 

When it is used as a flame retardant, it must be added in a large amount to achieve a certain flame retardant level. 

A large amount of addition may easily lead to a decrease in material formability and mechanical properties.

Low-smoke flame-retardant cables can also incorporate lanthanide compounds into the material. 

The lanthanide compound itself is not a flame retardant, but a flame retardant synergist. 

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It is often used in combination with a halide. 

At high temperatures, antimony trioxide reacts with a halide to form lanthanum trihalide or lanthanum oxyhalide. 

The flame retardant principle is The principle of gas phase flame retardation: 

The trihalide bismuth vapor can stay in the combustion zone for a long time and can dilute the flammable gas. 

The tri-halogenated ruthenium has a high vapor density and covers the surface of the polymer, which can play the role of heat insulation and oxygen barrier. 

The combustion of the material is very effective; the decomposition of bismuth oxyhalide is an endothermic reaction, which can effectively reduce the temperature and decomposition rate of the flame retardant material.

The surface effect of the liquid and solid lanthanum trihalide particles can reduce flame energy.

The antimony trihalide can promote the char formation reaction of the condensed phase, relatively retarding the thermal decomposition and oxidative decomposition of the flammable gas-generating material, and the formed carbon layer prevents the combustible gas from entering the flame zone and protecting the underlying material from damage.

Low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant wire and cable

The insulation and sheathing materials of low-smoke and halogen-free flame-retardant wire and cable are mostly thermoplastic elastomer materials. 

The materials do not contain halogen elements such as chlorobromobromoiodine, etc., and mercury, chromium, cadmium and lead are excluded from the production process. 

Heavy metal elements with large pollution in the environment, are often used as polyamide. The flame retardant mechanism of this cable is to interrupt the exchange of flame retardant mechanism. 

Interrupted exchange of flame retardant means that part of the heat generated when the flame retardant material is burned away so that the material cannot maintain the thermal decomposition temperature, and thus the combustible gas cannot be continuously generated, so the combustion self-extinguishes. 

For example, when the flame retardant material is heated or burned, it can be melted, and when the molten material drops, most of the heat can be carried away, causing the combustion to be delayed, and finally, the combustion may be terminated.

Fluoroplastic flame retardant wire and cable

Fluoroplastic flame-retardant wire and cable are inherently flame-retardant due to the special chemical structure of their materials. 

This kind of material does not need modification or flame retardant treatment and has the characteristics of high-temperature resistance, oxidation resistance, non-flammability, high oxygen index, self-extinguishing, etc. 

It is an ideal line for optical fiber communication cables.

What is the difference between a normal insulated wire and a flame-retardant wire?

The difference between ordinary insulated wire and flame-retardant wire is that the flame-retardant wire has passed the flame-retardant test or certification, while the ordinary cable does not. 

Most ordinary insulated wire and flame-retardant wire have no obvious difference in appearance, but the domestic flame-retardant wire will be in ZR if added to the printed content. 

Foreign standards such as UL are printed with VW-1 or CMP, CMR, etc. depending on the flame retardant level. 

Flame-retardant cable refers to the cable that is burned under the specified test conditions. 

After the test fire source is removed, the flame spreads only within a limited range, and the residual flame or residual burn can be extinguished by itself within a limited time. 

The fundamental characteristic is that it may be burnt out in the event of a fire and cannot operate, but it can prevent the spread of fire. In layman's terms, in the event of a fire, the wires can be confined to a local extent without spreading, and other equipment can be saved to avoid further losses.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Flame Retardant PE Cable Materials Supplier.