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Ferro introduces lead-free heat stabilizers for wire and cable
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28/01/2003
14:32
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Additives for Polymers
MATERIALS Ankerpoort launches flame-retardant filler European industrial minerals manufacturer Ankerpoort NV has launched a new flame-retardant filler. ‘Portaflame SG 40’ is a synthetic aluminium hydroxide (ATH), offering an environmentally friendly and non-toxic alternative to halogen-based flame retardants, the company says. According to Ankerpoort, Portaflame SG 40 is suitable for applications in cable compounds, wire beddings, polyester resins such as SMC and BMC, carpet backing, epoxy casting resins and elastomeric flooring, among others. Ankerpoort is headquartered in Maastricht, The Netherlands, and has various production companies in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Greece, which specialize in processing specific minerals. Contact: Ankerpoort NV, Op de Bos 300, NL-6223 EP Maastricht, The Netherlands; tel: +31-433663737; fax: +31-43-3649595; e-mail: info@ ankerpoort.com; URL: www.ankerpoort.com
Ferro introduces lead-free heat stabilizers for wire and cable According to manufacturer Ferro Polymer Additives Division, its three new calcium/zinc heat stabilizer ranges have been developed to replace lead additives in a broad range of applications within the US wire and cable market. The company says the Therm-Chek® powder stabilizers provide dynamic thermal stability comparable to that of lead and, in addition, that this stability can usually be achieved with a lower additive loading and for a competitive cost. Compounders and wire and cable producers are concerned about workplace safety and are looking for alternatives to additives containing heavy metals like lead, explains James Keenan, Business Development manager for the wire and cable industry at Ferro. “Until the development of these new products, there were relatively few stabilizers that could compete with lead on the basis of both performance and cost”, he says.
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February 2003
Ferro’s three new ranges of non-lead stabilizers suit applications in three broad categories of US wire and cable products: jacket, cordage and THHN/THWN wire applications. Developed to replace lead in most jacket applications, including tray and riser cable, Therm-Chek RC 149P, RC 216P and RC 197P all outperformed tribasic lead sulphate (TBLS) in dynamic colour stability testing at process temperatures of 180°C, the company says. In catastrophic testing at elevated temperatures and rpm rates, Ferro claims that the additives matched the performance of the lead-based products at lower loadings and lower cost. The Therm-Chek additives are said to have little effect on the lubricity and processing characteristics of the insulation compound, so no formula or process modifications are required. Aged physical properties are apparently equal to or better than those of lead. In SVT, SPT, SJT and SJTW cordage applications, Ferro believes its new Therm-Chek RC 232P additive can replace TBLS on a similar cost basis. The company reports that when tested against UL 62 requirements for insulation resistance, ThermChek RC 232P yielded higher insulation resistance values than TBLS in the test formulation after extrusion onto 14 AWG wire. Similar results were achieved in dynamic colour stability testing at process and elevated temperatures versus TBLS. Processing and ageing characteristics are also comparable. Therm-Chek RC 215P and RC 217P are designed for THHN and THWN applications, and have been developed to meet UL 83 requirements for wet electrical resistance. When tested against dibasic lead phthalate in a THWN formulation on 14 AWG wire, Ferro says the RC 215P stabilized formulation yielded significantly higher insulation resistance values after a 26 week immersion in 75°C water. Therm-Chek RC 217P is a low-cost version of RC 215P. Like its other non-lead stabilizers, Ferro says these products have colour stability, processing and ageing characteristics that are equal to or better than lead. Contact: Ferro Polymer Additives Division, 7050 Krick Road, Walton Hills, OH 441464494, USA; tel: +1-216-641-8580; fax: +1216-750-1416; URL: www.ferro.com
28/01/2003
14:32
Page 2
Additives for Polymers
MATERIALS Ankerpoort launches flame-retardant filler European industrial minerals manufacturer Ankerpoort NV has launched a new flame-retardant filler. ‘Portaflame SG 40’ is a synthetic aluminium hydroxide (ATH), offering an environmentally friendly and non-toxic alternative to halogen-based flame retardants, the company says. According to Ankerpoort, Portaflame SG 40 is suitable for applications in cable compounds, wire beddings, polyester resins such as SMC and BMC, carpet backing, epoxy casting resins and elastomeric flooring, among others. Ankerpoort is headquartered in Maastricht, The Netherlands, and has various production companies in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Greece, which specialize in processing specific minerals. Contact: Ankerpoort NV, Op de Bos 300, NL-6223 EP Maastricht, The Netherlands; tel: +31-433663737; fax: +31-43-3649595; e-mail: info@ ankerpoort.com; URL: www.ankerpoort.com
Ferro introduces lead-free heat stabilizers for wire and cable According to manufacturer Ferro Polymer Additives Division, its three new calcium/zinc heat stabilizer ranges have been developed to replace lead additives in a broad range of applications within the US wire and cable market. The company says the Therm-Chek® powder stabilizers provide dynamic thermal stability comparable to that of lead and, in addition, that this stability can usually be achieved with a lower additive loading and for a competitive cost. Compounders and wire and cable producers are concerned about workplace safety and are looking for alternatives to additives containing heavy metals like lead, explains James Keenan, Business Development manager for the wire and cable industry at Ferro. “Until the development of these new products, there were relatively few stabilizers that could compete with lead on the basis of both performance and cost”, he says.
2
February 2003
Ferro’s three new ranges of non-lead stabilizers suit applications in three broad categories of US wire and cable products: jacket, cordage and THHN/THWN wire applications. Developed to replace lead in most jacket applications, including tray and riser cable, Therm-Chek RC 149P, RC 216P and RC 197P all outperformed tribasic lead sulphate (TBLS) in dynamic colour stability testing at process temperatures of 180°C, the company says. In catastrophic testing at elevated temperatures and rpm rates, Ferro claims that the additives matched the performance of the lead-based products at lower loadings and lower cost. The Therm-Chek additives are said to have little effect on the lubricity and processing characteristics of the insulation compound, so no formula or process modifications are required. Aged physical properties are apparently equal to or better than those of lead. In SVT, SPT, SJT and SJTW cordage applications, Ferro believes its new Therm-Chek RC 232P additive can replace TBLS on a similar cost basis. The company reports that when tested against UL 62 requirements for insulation resistance, ThermChek RC 232P yielded higher insulation resistance values than TBLS in the test formulation after extrusion onto 14 AWG wire. Similar results were achieved in dynamic colour stability testing at process and elevated temperatures versus TBLS. Processing and ageing characteristics are also comparable. Therm-Chek RC 215P and RC 217P are designed for THHN and THWN applications, and have been developed to meet UL 83 requirements for wet electrical resistance. When tested against dibasic lead phthalate in a THWN formulation on 14 AWG wire, Ferro says the RC 215P stabilized formulation yielded significantly higher insulation resistance values after a 26 week immersion in 75°C water. Therm-Chek RC 217P is a low-cost version of RC 215P. Like its other non-lead stabilizers, Ferro says these products have colour stability, processing and ageing characteristics that are equal to or better than lead. Contact: Ferro Polymer Additives Division, 7050 Krick Road, Walton Hills, OH 441464494, USA; tel: +1-216-641-8580; fax: +1216-750-1416; URL: www.ferro.com