Huber s Unique Vertex 100 Series: Surface-Treated Magnesium Hydroxides. Outstanding Fire Retardant Performance in Wire and Cable Jacketing Compounds

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1 Huber s Unique Vertex Series: Surface-Treated Magnesium Hydroxides Outstanding Fire Retardant Performance in Wire and Cable Jacketing Compounds

2 Vertex SP and Vertex SV surface-treated magnesium hydroxides from Huber Engineered Materials impart outstanding fire retardance and smoke suppression in wire and cable jacketing applications. What is Important for Jacketing Compounds? Environmentally Friendly Additives Passes Stringent Smoke Generation Requirements Low Rate of Heat Release Slow Burn Rate Excellent Balance of Tensile Strength and Elongation Low Temperature Flexibility Easy to Manufacture More Strict Flame Retardance Requirements Numerous options exist to impart fire retardants in jacketing compounds. However, recent regulatory and market changes have narrowed the choices, all but excluding compounds containing halogen, which generate toxic smoke. Metal hydroxides such as Alumina Trihydrate (ATH) and Magnesium Hydroxide () are desirable because they are non-halogen, environmentally friendly and economical. However, they are not as efficient as halogenated fire retardant additives. In order to achieve outstanding fire retardant performance in highly flammable, halogen-free resin systems such as polyolefins, high loadings of ATH and are needed. These high loadings can compromise mechanical properties. Metal Hydroxides in Jacketing ATH is used in both PVC and non-halogen jacketing compounds. In some applications, ATH alone will not allow the compounder to achieve the desired performance. If the processing temperature exceeds 200 C, ATH cannot be used as it can start to decompose during compounding. is commonly used by itself or in blends with ATH in polyolefin compounds because it does an excellent job of imparting fire retardance and smoke suppression. At 330 C, decomposes to form magnesium oxide and water in an endothermic reaction. This reaction takes heat away from the flame giving low rates of heat release. 2

3 >Huber s Trusted Performance Untreated vs. Treated Unlike non-polar polyolefin polymers, untreated is quite polar, and these two are not compatible. It takes a significant amount of energy to get welldispersed in polyolefin compounds. Further, it is difficult to maintain good physical properties and low temperature performance at high loadings. Also, untreated has a relatively short shelf-life because it attracts moisture from the air and becomes difficult to process. As a result of over 30 years experience supplying metal hydroxides with surface treatments, Huber has developed the unique Vertex Series of products. We are excited to introduce Vertex SP surface-treated and Vertex SV surface-treated. These two products transform the untreated particles with a polar surface into particles with a non-polar surface. The latter particle mixes in faster than untreated. This same surface treatment also enables high loadings in jacketing compounds while maintaining an excellent balance of elongation and tensile strength. And the hydrophobic treatment greatly extends its shelf-life. t All Products Perform the Same In a side-by-side study comparing different products, Huber has found that the fire retardant performance of Vertex SP and Vertex SV surface-treated far surpasses the fire retardance of a leading competitive product, while the mechanical properties were relatively similar. The Rate of Heat Release and Rate of Smoke Production shown at right comparing Vertex SP with a competitive treated are based on jacket formulations described in the table (see page 4). kw/m 2 1/s Vertex SP Treated Time, Seconds Although the peak rate of heat release is similar, the above graph shows that the jacket containing Vertex SP surface-treated burns slower with a less violent flame. This allows for longer escape time Rate of Heat Release (RHR) Rate of Smoke Production (RSP) Vertex SP Treated Time, Seconds The slower burning jacket containing Vertex SP surface-treated has an additional benefit. It generates far less smoke in the first 10 minutes of the burn, which is highly desirable. The widely different performance is due to particle size distribution, surface area and surface treatment differences between the two Vertex products. 3

4 Comparing Jacketing Compounds with Different Grades The table below compares Huber s Vertex Series of products versus a major competitive grade. While the mechanical properties are similar, both Vertex products show superior flame retardance and smoke suppression performance. We invite you to peruse the formulation, applications testing and recommendations outlined. Ingredient Treated Vertex SP Vertex SV Vertex Vertex SP Treated EVA (28% VA Content) Organic Peroxide Process Aids/Antioxidant Total Treated Vertex SP Vertex SV Vertex Vertex SP Treated Test ID Compounding Torque by Batch Mixer (meter grams) % Modulus (psi) Maximum Tensile Strength (psi) Break (%) Low Temperature Brittleness ( C) -3.5* -14* -11* UL-94 Vertical Burn (1/16 inch) Fail* V0* V0* V0* V1* Fail* T 1 + T 2 Total Time (seconds) (Meets V0 <30 seconds; no dripping) >250* 14* 23* 20* 39* >250* Peak Rate of Heat Release (kw/m 2 ) 214.5* 205.4* Time to Ignition (seconds) Avg. Mass Loss Rate (10% to 90%) (g/m 2 s) Avg. Specific Extinction Area (m 2 /kg) Dielectric Constant Dissipation Factor Volume Resistance 5.4 E E E E E+15 Recommended for: Jacketing Compounds Insulation Compounds All Formulations Represented in PHR *Vertex Series Key Areas of Advantage and Differentiation Huber s Vertex Series for Use in Wire and Cable Jacketing Compounds Huber recommends its Vertex series products for jacketing compounds because they offer better economics and improved flame retardant performance, such as power and control tray table jackets. However, the electrical conductivity is too high for these products to be considered for insulation compounds. 4

5 >Comparing ATH and Thermal decomposition reaction (endothermic): 2Al(OH) 3 Al 2 O 3 + 3H 2 O H = -280 cal/g Mg(OH) 2 MgO + H 2 O H = -328 cal/g Take heat away from the flame Water vapors dilute volatile polymer decomposition products (fuel) Form protective metal oxide layer on polymer surface Neither ATH nor contain halogen. When exposed to heat, these metal hydroxides decompose to form water molecules in an endothermic reaction. This results in reduced flame spread and smoke generation. 110 Weight Loss (%) ATH Temperature ( C) The graph above shows that decomposes at a higher temperature than ATH, making it useful for engineering thermoplastic resins such as polyamides and polypropylene. 5

6 About Huber Engineered Materials Huber Engineered Materials, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S.), develops engineered specialty ingredients that enhance the performance, appeal and processing of a broad range of products used in industrial, paper and consumer-based applications. Its inorganic expertise has resulted in advancing the art in specialty alumina trihydrate (ATH), molybdate compounds, magnesium hydroxide (), precipitated silicas and silicates, barium sulfate and natural calcium carbonate. Huber has over 30 years of experience producing numerous grades of ATH and ranging in particle sizes from sub-micron to 80 microns. Call: 866-JMHUBER ( ) Click: hubermaterials@huber.com THERE ARE NO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Refer to Huber s Standard Conditions of Sale for the only express warranties applicable to the Huber products. Products incorporating Huber products are not warranted by Huber. In no event is Huber liable for consequential damages. Vertex is used, applied for, or registered as a trademark of J.M. Huber Corporation for magnesium hydroxide in various countries around the world J.M. Huber Corporation /VertexSeries/Jacketing/June2015 6