EuroWire July 2022

Technical Article

Product – NHFR

Shore

Features

Flammability performance / typical application

UL 1061 cable flame on small diameter = 5mm diameter / data, sensor, drag chain cables UL FT-2 small diameter cable (4.3mm) / automation cables UL FT-1, VW-1, cable flame >8mm diameter / data, sensor, drag chain cables UL 1061 CFT / medical cable – no interference with imaging UL 1061 cable flame small diameter cable <5mm / data, sensor, drag chain cables Cable bundle IEC60332-3 capability / data and nuclear cables High heat-resistant pressure indentation / thermal overload T3 cables – truck cables – ISO 6722 Low gas conductivity <10µS/mm – IEC60332-1-2 – cable requiring high flexibility UL FT-1, VW-1, IEC60332-1-2 – cable requiring high flexibility IEC60332-1-2 / EV charging cables EN50620 – institute/lab selection critical for gas conductivity IEC60332-1-2 / EV charging cables EN50620 and IEC 62893 IEC60332-1-2 / EV charging cables IEC 62893 – limiting use of three-core small diameter cable Mild FR only when UL 94 V2 rating required / control cables Mild FR only when UL 94 V2 rating required / control cables

Estane® ZHF90AM9 NAT 01

91 A UL 105°C, TS >30MPa, V0, no plasticiser, UL and VDE compliant

Estane® ZHF90AT2 NAT 055 (best selling)

90A UL 90°C, TS <25MPa, V2, no plasticiser

Estane® ZHF90AT8H NAT 02

87A UL 105°C, TS >25MPa, V0, UL and VDE compliant

Estane® ZHF88AT8 NAT 01

UL-94 V0, TS < 25MPa

Estane® ZHF92AT8 NAT 01

92A UL 90°C, TS <25MPa, V0, no plasticiser

Estane® ZHF95AP7 NAT 01

95A UL 90°C, TS <25 MPa, V0, no plasticiser

Estane® ZHF58202 NAT 02

89A UL 105°C, TS >25 MPa, V2, no plasticiser, low COLTE (low attenuation), VDE compliant IEC60332-1-2 / ISO6722 – optical fiber cables

Estane® ZHF58211 NAT 01

94A UL 90°C, TS >25 MPA, V2, no plasticiser

Estane® ZHF58370 NAT 01

84A TS >25 MPa, V2, no plasticiser, low gas conductivity < 10µS/mm, softness

Estane® ZHF 80AT7 NAT 01

80A TS <25MPa, V2, no plasticiser, soft

Estane® EV 90AT2 NAT 02

90A TS >25MPa, V2, no plasticiser, gas conductivity <40µS/mm

Estane® EV 89AT9 NAT 01

89A TS >30MPa, V2, no plasticiser, gas conductivity <35µS/mm

Estane® EV 88AT2 NAT 01

88A TS >25MPa, V2, no plasticiser, gas conductivity <35µS/mm

Estane® ZHF85AT8 MATT 01

85A Matt, TS >25MPa, V2

Estane® ZHF85AT8 NAT 01

85A Transparent/glossy, TS >25MPa, V2

Table 1 : Features, applications and flammability of Estane NHFR TPU compounds

2.4 For matt cables: Estane ZHF 85AT8 MATT 01 Plasticiser-free Estane ZHF 85AT8 MATT 01 is recommended if mild FR conditions are needed in combination with a matt cable surface and an optimised cost/performance. It has a UL-94 V2 rating and an oxygen index of 24 per cent. This grade exhibits excellent/easy processability and surface aesthetics and has global regulatory compliance. 2.5 For the highest flame retardancy: Estane ZHF 95AP7 NAT 01 Estane ZHF 95AP7 NAT 01, with a UL-94 V0 rating and an oxygen index of around 30 per cent, is the highest flame-retardant grade in the portfolio and has cable bundle capability like IEC 60332-3. Table 2 summarises the general properties of the five above mentioned materials. Mechanical properties were measured on an extruded 1mm strip. 2.6 For charging cables: Estane Electric Vehicles (EV) grades Estane EV 90AT2 NAT 02, EV 88AT2 NAT 01 and EV 89AT9 NAT 01 are the main grades offered by Lubrizol for the EV charging cable market. Both EV 90AT2 NAT 02 and EV88AT2 NAT 01 pass the European requirements for gas conductivity (<40 μS/mm). EV90AT2 NAT 02 has limitations in its capability to pass gas conductivity testing according to the global EV charging cables requirements (<35 μS/mm). EV88AT2 NAT 01 is fit for global EV charging cable requirements but has slightly lower flame retardancy, limiting the use of three-core small-diameter EV charging cables. Estane EV 89AT9 NAT 01 is best-in-class for EV charging cables and complies with global IEC 62893 and EN 50620 specifications

without any test lab restrictions. It has a gas conductivity in the 16μS/mm range and passes mechanical requirements, IEC 60332 1-2 cable flame test and ageing testing as specified in IEC 62893 and EN 50620, among others. It exhibits easy processability and surface aesthetics. Regulation-wise, this resin has global compliance, and a UL 105°C temperature rating can be achieved. This grade also exhibits easy colourability, needing a lower amount (one third) of colour masterbatch compared to other more common NHFR TPU technologies. This feature contributes to the overall cost performance of this grade. An extensive product portfolio is required to support the current TPU flame retardant market, due to application diversity, multiple end-uses and the critical-to-quality (CTQ) key points. For this reason, the ideal NHFR TPU grade should be able to combine all the necessary properties to meet the CTQs in diverse wire and cable applications. Lubrizol Engineered Polymers has developed a new NHFR TPU grade called Estane ZHF 90AM9 NAT 01, combining these necessary key features, based on its large knowledge of FR additives and TPU chemistry. 3 New Estane ZHF TPU for cable applications

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July 2022