Cables with halogen-free flame resistant compounds

Paul Boughton

Flame-retardant cables and hoses for the highly regulated railway, marine, military and automotive industries have reached new levels of safety, durability and ease of installation with insulation and jacketing compounds based on DuPont Vamac ethylene acrylic elastomer (AEM).

Close collaboration between DuPont and wire and cable makers to develop optimum formulations using Vamac has resulted in a unique combination of properties that outperform other commonly used polymers for flame-retardant cables and hoses, such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVM).

Optimised Vamac compounds combine enhanced fire and oil resistance with better low temperature flexibility (without plasticiser), and superior heat resistance up to 175°C.

These collaborative programmes have yielded innovative jacketing and insulation solutions to fulfil the most stringent industrial requirements in, for example, the automotive and railway industries:

* For the automotive industry, Vamac G is the preferred solution for applications such as transmission wire jacketing, protective ignition wire sleeving and battery cables.
 
* For the railway industry, where high flame retardance, low smoke and low toxicity are critical, Vamac DP is the solution of choice for power and communication cables. In addition, the DuPont AEM accepts the high levels of metal oxide fillers required in high-performance low fire hazard compounds for rail transportation, as well those for military, marine and oil and gas applications.

For more information, visit www.dupont.com

                                                                                                                                                       

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