MATERIALS | WIRE & CABLE
Right: The result of a project by PVC4Cables was a cable 12.3 mm in diameter, grey colour, made with a PVC sheath, filler, and G16 insulation
is decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), and Saytex BT-93W, which is ethylene bis(tetrabromophthalimide) or EBTBP, both of which excel in primary insulation and jackets of low voltage (< 2 kV) wires. “Together with robust fire protection, both products offer excellent perfor- mance due to their hydrolytic and electrical stability, non-blooming nature, and processability,” said Kyle Bodine, VP of Applications R&D at Albemarle. “These properties allow XHHW-2 labelled wires containing Saytex Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) to pass rigorous tests such as VW-1, as well as wet-electricals, which are part of the UL-44 standard. Saytex BFRs are also used in thicker USE-2 cables and are compatible with currently used curing processes for XLPE. They are also highly effective in primary automotive wiring and EV charging cables.”
Standards and directives The company has also invested in a new wireline at its R&D facilities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “In an increasingly electrified and digital world, our customers want products that meet sustainability criteria and are non-volatile, non-toxic, non-corro- sive, recyclable, and oxidatively, thermally, and hydrolytically stable,” said Wesley Hamilton, Chief Technical Officer. Avient has announced an expansion of its
Below: Avient has expanded its flame retardant solutions portfolio with ECCOH XL 8054
ECCOH XL cross-linkable flame retardant solutions with the launch of ECCOH XL 8054. Developed for low smoke and fume wire and cable insulation, one of its key advantages is its ability to meet the Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) EN 50363-0:2015 standards, namely G17 and G18, and adhere to the CPR for enhanced fire safety. It can be processed using standard single-screw extrusion equipment, this streamlined manufactur- ing process not only reducing production costs but
increasing line speed. ECCOH XL 8054 also excels in mechanical properties, with high elongation at break and outstanding performance in the Hot Set Test at 250° C. With these attributes, it can be used in a variety of applications, including railways, construction, and solar cables. Evonik says the expansion of the European
Commission’s Construction Products Directive and its stricter fire safety standards has prompted increased use of magnesium hydroxide (MDH) and aluminium trihydrate (ATH) in cable compounds. Previously, there was a trend towards reducing ATH/MTH levels in formulations below 60%, according to Dr Miriam Schehr, Global Head of Applied Technology & Technical Service Com- pounds. Newer formulations now incorporate 60-65% inorganic flame retardants but this makes achieving the necessary mechanical properties challenging. On top of this, the higher MDH and ATH content
can increase water absorption, which compromises the durability and reliability of cables in some environments. To combat this, Evonik has devel- oped Tegopren 6879 as a surface treatment agent. Recent evaluations have shown that treated ATH/ MDH grades benefit from up to a 25% reduction in water absorption compared to untreated grades and also have better compatibility with the polymer matrix, improving filler performance, processibility, and mechanical properties. In addition, Evonik additives such as Tegomer FR 100, Tegomer FR 120 and Tegomer V-Si 4042 optimise the performance of cable compounds by helping maintain a balance between fire resistance, mechanical integrity, and processibility. Melos offers a versatile portfolio of halogen-
free, flame-retardant insulation, sheathing, and bedding compounds used in a wide range of applications such as construction, fibre optic technology, and special cables. It also develops halogenated insulation and sheathing compounds
22 COMPOUNDING WORLD | May 2025
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: AVIENT
IMAGE: PVC4CABLES
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