FIRE PROTECTION AND MORE
14.09.2023
Pinneberg/Germany, September 2023 – Plastics must have a specific level of fire resistance for many applications. ROMIRA has succeeded in developing an extremely valuable product innovation in this area: The engineering plastics specialist has developed a V-0 additive package for a PC-GF compound that contains no halogen-containing or SVHC positive listed products. Not only that, the V-0 listing is achieved with a product that flows extremely well, which in turn facilitates efficient injection molding processing.
The PC-GF, V-0 compound refers to a composite material of polycarbonate (and 10 % glass fiber reinforcement). This composite material meets the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 94 standard for fire protection class V-0, which signifies very low flammability as the material is self-extinguishing and flame spread is limited.
In order to achieve fire resistance, suitable additives must be added to plastics that are not inherently resistant - these are all plastics with an oxygen index of less than 40 to 30. They must be environmentally compatible and must not constitute a health hazard, particularly in the event of fire. The latter is determined by the absence of halogens and the negative SVHC listing. In this context, SVHC stands for "substances of very high concern" that are suspected of having negative and long-lasting effects on human health or the environment and that require appropriate safety measures to be taken when being processed. SVHC substances are announced on REACH candidate list or SVHC list. If such a substance is used or used in mixtures and products, there are extensive information obligations for manufacturers and suppliers as well as a right to information for downstream users and consumers.
The standard products on the market comprise halogen-containing substances and / or substances with an SVHC listing. ROMIRA now has an attractive alternative: ROTEC® PC 7040 GF10 FR not only features a non-hazardous, environmentally friendly flame retardant and excellent impact strength, but can also be processed at lower temperatures between 260 and 280 °C while maintaining the same flow properties. This gentle processing at low temperatures has the advantage of lower energy consumption and the products manufactured in this manner exhibit greater color stability.
These properties all combine to make the PC-GF, V-0 compound particularly suitable for applications where fire protection requirements, mechanical strength and high impact resistance are essential, resulting in a wide range of applications, including:
- Electrical and electronic housings: Its UL V-0 rating and glass fiber reinforcement make ROTEC® PC 7040 GF10 FR ideal for the manufacture of electrical and electronic housings, panels and components. It features both mechanical strength and fire protection, which are essential in such applications.
- Automotive industry: ROTEC® PC 7040 GF10 FR can be effectively used in the automotive industry, particularly for applications that must satisfy fire protection requirements. Some examples are interior trim, components for vehicle interiors and electrical components.
- Industrial applications: ROTEC® PC 7040 GF10 FR's glass fiber reinforcement suitable for a variety of industrial applications, this potentially includes, for example, the manufacture of housings, protective covers, components and trim in which both strength and fire protection are paramount.