TPE Wire And Cable Materials Of PPO

TPE Wire And Cable Materials Of PPO

The wire and cable manufacturing industry is a crucial sector that supports the development of the national economy and the well-being of society. It is one of the largest industries in terms of output value within the electrical and electronics sector, with a vast range of products and significant scale. Wire and cable products are widely used in various sectors of economic development and social life, serving as a fundamental guarantee for the normal functioning of modern economies and societies.

Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) materials, as a type of high molecular synthetic material, have become a hot application area. Due to their inherent high weather resistance, thermal stability, ease of processing, and energy-saving and economic characteristics, they are gradually gaining popularity. In particular, the new type of TPE materials dedicated to wires and cables possess excellent flexibility, high-quality texture, good insulation, and halogen-free flame retardant grades. They also comply with ROHS and UL standards, making them safe and environmentally friendly.

The processing performance, physical properties, and electrical properties of thermoplastic elastomers are all relatively superior. The production process is less challenging, and they offer high production efficiency. Today, they are widely used in the wire and cable field, and with continuous development in recent years, there is still significant potential for further application.

TPE materials, due to their inherent limitations in heat resistance, need to be combined with other modifying materials for comprehensive application in special cable fields.

As early as 1968, researchers at GE, including Eric P.C., discovered that blending PPO and PS could produce an alloy material with excellent comprehensive performance. The compatibility between PPO and PS is very good, allowing them to be blended in any proportion to form an alloy. They can even achieve compatibility at the molecular level, which is reflected in the fact that PPO/PS alloys of various proportions have only one glass transition temperature (Tg).

Therefore, as mentioned earlier, PPO materials have good compatibility with SEBS raw materials and can be directly blended for modification. Adding PPO can significantly improve the mechanical properties, heat resistance, flame retardancy, and electrical insulation performance of TPE.

Blending PPO materials with rubber and thermoplastic elastomers increases flexibility and improves the operating temperature and flame retardancy of the elastomers. This can effectively address the challenge of balancing flame retardancy, softness, high-temperature resistance, environmental friendliness, and other physical properties in traditional halogen-free cables, giving flexible modification a greater competitive edge.

In summary, the advantages of adding PPO to TPE cable materials include:

1. Improved Temperature Resistance: The material's temperature rating is increased, with the highest long-term operating temperature reaching up to 125°C.

2. Enhanced High-Temperature Resilience: The material's resistance to permanent deformation under compression at high temperatures is improved, meaning its high-temperature resilience is better.

3. Synergistic Flame Retardancy: The addition of PPO can create a synergistic effect with flame retardants, thereby enhancing the material's flame retardancy.

The development of melt-blended materials combining PPO with SEBS has also been ongoing.

Melt-blended PPO/SEBS materials have been prepared using the melt-blending method. A systematic study has been conducted on the effects of common plasticizers, such as paraffin oil, cycloaliphatic oil, and aromatic oil, on the structure, mechanical properties, rheological properties, aging performance, and high-temperature performance of the blended materials. This has led to the creation of PPO/SEBS blended materials with SEBS as the continuous phase, which exhibit good processing and heat resistance.

Additionally, phosphorus-based flame retardants have been combined with various inorganic minerals (montmorillonite, talcum powder, silica, and mica) to prepare flame-retardant PPO/SEBS composite materials. The effects of the combination of phosphorus-based flame retardants and mica on the mechanical properties, flame retardancy, and thermal performance of the composite materials have been investigated. When the total mass of the composite flame retardants accounts for 25% of the composite material, the oxygen index of the composite material reaches 50.8%, and it passes the UL94 V0 vertical flame test.

In conclusion, the integration of PPO with TPE cable materials has led to significant advancements in the wire and cable industry. The combination of PPO with SEBS through melt-blending techniques has resulted in materials that offer enhanced processing, heat resistance, and overall performance. The addition of PPO to TPE materials has improved temperature resistance, high-temperature resilience, and flame retardancy, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.

Furthermore, the use of red phosphorus flame retardants from YINSU Flame Retardant, such as the 950 series, and melamine-based flame retardants like PPAP-15, can be effectively incorporated into TPE cable materials. These flame retardants contribute to the development of TPE cables with excellent fire safety characteristics, further expanding the potential applications of TPE in the wire and cable sector. By leveraging these advanced materials and flame retardants, the industry can continue to produce high-quality, safe, and reliable cable solutions that meet the stringent requirements of modern electrical and electronic systems.

YINSU Flame Retardant Company has developed a special flame retardant FRP-950X for low-smoke halogen-free cables, which is suitable for use with PPO, not only for PE, but also for HIPS products, to achieve a more efficient and higher physical properties of the halogen-free flame retardant.

FRP-950X flame retardant has excellent flame retardant properties and ultra-fine particle size, and after blending with PPO, it is able to significantly improve the flame retardant grade of the material while maintaining good physical properties and processing properties. physical properties and processing performance. This combination has a wide range of application prospects in the field of wires and cables, and can meet the demand for high-performance, environmentally friendly flame retardant materials for modern electronic products.