Automotive
The vast majority of automotive cables are produced using PVC due to its low cost coupled with excellent mechanical properties and inherent fire retardance. There is, however, a general interest in moving away from this to other polymers where the fire performance is achieved by the use of halogen free or the addition of low levels of other halogenated (typically ,12% bromine) fire retardant systems. This is driven by environmental concerns; mainly the desire to remove PVC from scrapped vehicles.
Our main interest is in replacing the higher temperature wires used in cars; particularly those that are found in the engine compartment. We have focused on developing compounds for 125oC rated wires to meet T3 in the LV112 or Class C in the ISO 6722 standards and have been investigating three solutions to this requirement; silane crosslinkable, electron beam radiation curable and thermoplastic compounds.
We currently have three commercial compounds available; low halogen and HFFR silane crosslinkable together with a thermoplastic compound. Developments are progressing well with compounds for electron beam curing and we have some grades ready for testing although these are yet to be fully commercialized.
Grades Available
|
Density |
Tensile |
Elongation |
Scrape abrasion |
Limiting oxygen |
Temperature |
Data |
| SX547:CM401 Silane crosslinkable low halogen for 125oC rated automotive wiring | ||||||
|
1.1 |
21 |
400 |
>300 |
23 |
- |
|
|
SX549:CM401 Silane crosslinkable HFFR for 125oC rated automotive wiring |
||||||
|
1.36 |
25 |
300 |
>300 |
25 |
- |
|
|
TP560 Thermoplastic HFFR for 125oC rated automotive wiring |
||||||
|
1.36 |
18 |
400 |
>300 |
25 |
200 |
|
Please note that the silane crosslinkable grades are shown as a system with a graft and a catalyst. These are normally used in the ratio of 95:5. The most common catalyst masterbatch is shown in the table but there are others available which helps us to more accurately match your property requirements and processing conditions.
