Kraiburg TPE lines help wire, cable producers

WALDKRAIBURG, Germany—Kraiburg TPE GmbH & Co. K.G. has released two new compounds designed for the wire and cable industry.

Thermolast K UL/LD/b is designed for demanding industrial outdoor use, while the Thermolast K FR1 and FR2 series are both halogen-free TPEs that comply with the UL94 V0 standard for flame retardancy.

Its Thermolast K UL/LD/b series was created for applications requiring a higher level of ultraviolet resistance. A spokeswoman said in an email that the line intends to minimize and remove discoloration that traditional TPEs were experiencing, primarily in the automotive market. She said the product is very well-suited for applications such as cowls, roof rims, water deflectors and window encapsulations. The material can be used in other markets where applications require weathering resistance.

The line consists of eight different compounds ranging from 32 Shore A to 35 Shore D.

The material has been tested according to PV3930, which is a stringent accelerated weathering test standard in the automotive sector. Beyond automotive, the spokeswoman said the line is used in both electrical engineering and electronics applications like connectors, switch boxes and flush-mounted sockets.

"They combine UV and moisture resistance with superior adhesion to polyolefins while having a broad hardness range and good compression set performance at both room temperature and elevated temperatures," the spokeswoman said. "For cables boots, often manufacturers require flexibility in the material to provide proper strain relief, and this material offers this advantage."

The firm's K FR1 and FR2 series were designed to provide customers self-extinguishing materials, primarily for the building and construction segment.

The spokeswoman said the FR1 series passes the 3 millimeter UL94 V0 test, while the FR2 series passes the 1.5 millimeter test, making both ideal for fire retardancy applications. Each grade includes six different types of hardness grades and the ability to customize each grade into two kinds of colors—black and natural.

The line provides great adhesion to polyolefins and an optimal surface finish, the spokeswoman said, and can be processed via either injection molding or extrusion.

Being halogen-free was a critical requirement for Kraiburg. The spokeswoman said substantial damage could occur even if only a few kilograms of thermoplastic material containing halogens caught fire. The gases emanated from those halogens could have serious negative effects on people, furniture, equipment or buildings. She added that being halogen-free in accordance with IEC 61249-2-21 also means that the material contributes to a significant reduction of harmful fire gases.

"Kraiburg TPE is a pioneer in non-halogenated materials, as most of the U.S.-based competition still provide halogenated FR materials that are extremely toxic to humans and the environment," the spokeswoman said. "The effects are primarily caused by thick billows of smoke that make people lose orientation on the escape routes, as well as toxic fumes and corrosive conflagration gases, which are detrimental to health and can be dangerous to the fabric of a building. The halogens' corrosiveness also is considered to be a problem for maintaining a material's properties during recycling of waste materials such as old vehicles."

Both lines are produced at all three Kraiburg TPE plants, serving their respective regions—Waldkraiburg; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Buford, Ga. The spokeswoman said its Buford plant recently invested to increase overall efficiency in producing these and other Thermolast lines.