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EuroWire –September 2008
67
technical article
New wire and cable
solutions for high-heat
environments
By Kurt Bolz, Flame Retardant Application Technology Leader, Dow Wire & Cable; Peter Dreux, Ph D, Senior New Business Development
Specialist, DowWire & Cable; and Erik Groot-Enzerink, Senior Development Specialist, DowWire & Cable
High heat environments, like those found
in appliance and automotive applications,
offer plenty of challenges for wire and
cable compounders, manufacturers and
end users alike.
Obviously, temperature tolerance is a
key performance factor for high heat
resistant compounds, but there are many
other important considerations including
processing improvements within existing
manufacturing practices, environmental
tolerances and ease of installation and long
service life for the end use application.
With detailed input from all customers
along the value chain, engineers and
marketing leaders at Dow Wire & Cable
identified a widespread need for solutions
that would perform well in high heat
environments.
The answer to that need is Unigard™
RE (reduced emissions) HFDA-1492 NT
flame retardant (FR) compound that
tolerates 125°C temperatures and provides
important additional benefits while
meeting industry and end-use market
specifications.
Customer needs
The global automotive market is a good
example of evolving application areas for
high heat resistant wires and cables.
From advanced modular systems for
navigation to entertainment and power
doors, windows and locks, these ever
expanding onboard electronic systems are
driving the use of more and more wire and
cable.
Especially for under-the-hood applications,
new solutions not only need to support
the physical properties necessary to impart
high-heat resistance, but must also be
compatible with the vehicle manufacturing
and assembly process, while also providing
weight and cost savings.
For other industries, like appliance
manufacturing,
similar
performance
characteristics,
such
as
toughness,
flexibility, colour stability and fluid
resistance also accompany demands for
high heat tolerance.
Environmental benefits
In addition to addressing performance
issues, Dow Wire & Cable is committed
to developing solutions that also meet
environmental
sustainability
goals.
Industry-wide, plastic articles used in
enclosed spaces must usually possess
flame retardant (FR) properties to provide
resistance to combustion.
Though halogenated and halogen-free
flame retardants (HFFRs) have both
traditionally been used, there is a steady
global trend toward the selection of
HFFRs, due to lower smoke, toxicity and
corrosivity, as well as finished-article
end-of-life and recycling considerations.
HFFR or low smoke zero-halogen (LS0H)
polyolefin-based
formulations,
such
as those that work well in high-heat
environments, typically require high
levels of additives, which significantly
impact both mechanical properties and
processability. This poses unique material
development challenges, especially in
areas where lower levels of halogenated
flame retardants (for example, PVC or
polyvinyl
chloride)
have
historically
been used to meet flame-resistance
requirements.
The new Unigard high-heat compound
from Dow Wire & Cable addresses these
important environmental and legislative
requirements by providing PVC-like
performance with LS0H advantages at a
competitive cost.
Specifications
Unigard™
RE
(reduced
emissions)
HFDA-1492 NT FR compound meets
The automotive market – a good example of evolving application areas for high heat resistant wires and cables
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