FOAMED SHEET | MATERIALS
Recent developments in foamed sheet include a PVDF supply agreement, the development of a new flame-retardant product and a method to create microcellular foam structure
Light relief: latest in foamed sheet
Foaming processes help to reduce weight – espe- cially in thin products such as sheet. However, foamed sheet can be imbued with remarkably advanced properties, including high mechanical strength and flame retardancy. For instance, Swiss polyolefin foams manufac-
turer Sekisui Alveo recently added a flame-retard- ant foam for construction applications to its Alveolit product line. Alveolit TA FR 3505 now carries a Class B flammability rating. This is the company’s first foam to achieve this rating under EN 13501. The high fire-resistance rating opens up a range of possibili- ties to create solutions in construction and indus- trial applications, it says. “This is our first foam to achieve the Class B flammability rating in accordance with EN 13501- 1,” said Fabian Leuthard, application development manager at Sekisui Alveo. “We look forward to seeing it used in new applications that the new rating makes possible.” The product is a physically crosslinked closed-
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cell polyolefin foam, aimed at applications such as pipe insulation, pipe wrapping and flat roof applications.
Class B designates a high level of fire safety – with only Class A being higher. It indicates that the material will not lead to a flashover situation. Alveolit TA FR 3505 was formerly rated Class E, but the new classification opens up a wider range of applications. Tests on the materials were conducted accord- ing to the European standards EN 11925-2:2020 and EN 13823: 2020. The test method used is known as ‘single burning item’ and was conducted in accordance with standard EN 13823. It is suitable for determining the reaction to fire behaviour of building products, excluding flooring. The test evaluates the potential contribution of a product to the development of a fire in a fire situation – simu- lating a single burning item in a room corner near that product. The sample tested was an anthracite-coloured Alveolit TA FR 3505, 5mm thick, with a density of 29
Main image: Sekisui Alveo has added a flame-retardant foam to its Alveolit product line
December 2023 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 31
IMAGE: SEKISUI ALVEO
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