EuroWire July 2020

Corporate News

New flame-retardant solution raises the bar for fire safety standards

Thermoplastic polyurethane can be made with properties ranging from soft to hard and from elastic to stiff, depending on the requirements. The products have in common a high abrasion and wear resistance as well as chemical and weather resistance. The plastic granulate can be processed into profiles, strips, hoses, fibres, films or foams. Formulating and compounding steps can be used to create additional value. For example, end-use requirements such as flame retardancy, adhesion, appearance and haptics can be enhanced through specific formulation and compounding techniques. Covestro www.covestro.com Teknor Apex www.teknorapex.com Borealis is a provider of solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilisers. The company’s head office is in Vienna, Austria, and it operates in more than 120 countries, providing services and products in collaboration with Borouge, a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Borealis www.borealisgroup.com Borouge www.borouge.com the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) Euroclass scale for flaming droplets. This highest level of flame retardancy makes it possible for cable industry partners to fulfil the stringent CPR cable standards in Europe when using FR8101. Borealis and Borouge state that cable manufacturers have previously been bound by certain limitations when using conventional halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR) cable compounds. For example, material decomposition during the extrusion process can result in lower production speeds and inferior cable performance. The mechanical properties offered by FR8101 can eliminate these issues by allowing cable makers to run production lines at high speeds. When used in tandem with a crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation solution provided by Visico™/Ambicat™, the new grade is a simple way for Borealis and Borouge customers to fulfil CPR requirements without having to use other FR insulation or bedding. This enables more efficient processing during production, as well as lighter cables and easier installation. “The launch of FR8101 provides an innovative and more effective solution that addresses important industry challenges,” explained Bart Verheule, Borealis head of marketing, energy. “Borealis and Borouge are committed to bringing energy all around by supplying new ways for our partners to make safer and more sustainable cables. This in turn helps raise standards in health and safety for everyone.”

Borealis and Borouge are expanding their existing portfolio of flame-retardant (FR) jacketing grades with the launch of FR8101. The new, halogen-free solution is based on metal hydrate technology and is intended for the production of low-voltage building cables used in demanding environments. FR8101 is claimed to allow cable manufacturers to offer a safer product with better performance while achieving increased production efficiency. FR8101 is based on a highly flame-retardant metal hydrate technology. In the event of a fire, the material releases water to reduce the intensity of the flames. Jacketing made with FR8101 is resistant to the flaming droplets that often cause fire to spread within buildings where cables are installed inside walls and roofs. By retaining its shape in intense heat, FR8101 jacketing stays on the cable, even if the cable is burnt. Depending on the type of construction, FR8101 can earn the best possible rating of “d0” in

▼ FR8101 is Borealis and Borouge’s new flame-retardant jacketing grade

Cooperation agreement on compounding TPU

Materials plastics compounder Teknor Apex have signed an agreement to closely cooperate on compounding thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Covestro has been producing TPU – a versatile plastic – in pure form for many years, for use in various industry sectors. Through compounding, the array of achievable properties can be increased. This is a particular strength of Teknor Apex. Dr Thorsten Dreier, global head of the TPU business at Covestro, commented, “Together with Teknor Apex, we want to develop customised products to grow together with our existing and new customers.” Sachin Sakhalkar, vice president of the TPE division at Teknor Apex, added, “The combination of Covestro’s expertise in TPU resin with Teknor Apex’s custom formulation and compounding capabilities provide a compelling value driver for our combined customers worldwide.” Covestro will support the marketing of the jointly developed products by Teknor Apex with its Desmoflex® brand. manufacturer Covestro and global

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July 2020