GB2108130A - Fire retardant compositions with reduced smoke emission - Google Patents

Fire retardant compositions with reduced smoke emission Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2108130A
GB2108130A GB08225446A GB8225446A GB2108130A GB 2108130 A GB2108130 A GB 2108130A GB 08225446 A GB08225446 A GB 08225446A GB 8225446 A GB8225446 A GB 8225446A GB 2108130 A GB2108130 A GB 2108130A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
ethylene
weight
parts
composition according
chromic anhydride
Prior art date
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GB08225446A
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GB2108130B (en
Inventor
Antonio Zaopo
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Pirelli and C SpA
Original Assignee
Pirelli Cavi SpA
Cavi Pirelli SpA
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Publication of GB2108130A publication Critical patent/GB2108130A/en
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Publication of GB2108130B publication Critical patent/GB2108130B/en
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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08KUse of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
    • C08K3/00Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients
    • C08K3/18Oxygen-containing compounds, e.g. metal carbonyls
    • C08K3/20Oxides; Hydroxides
    • C08K3/22Oxides; Hydroxides of metals
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01BCABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B3/00Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties
    • H01B3/18Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances
    • H01B3/30Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances plastics; resins; waxes
    • H01B3/44Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances plastics; resins; waxes vinyl resins; acrylic resins
    • H01B3/441Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances plastics; resins; waxes vinyl resins; acrylic resins from alkenes
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01BCABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B3/00Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties
    • H01B3/18Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances
    • H01B3/30Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances plastics; resins; waxes
    • H01B3/44Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances plastics; resins; waxes vinyl resins; acrylic resins
    • H01B3/443Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances plastics; resins; waxes vinyl resins; acrylic resins from vinylhalogenides or other halogenoethylenic compounds

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
  • Organic Insulating Materials (AREA)
  • Insulated Conductors (AREA)

Abstract

An electrical insulation composition comprising at least one polymer selected from ethylene/propylene rubber, ethylene/propylene/diene rubber, polyethylene, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulphonated polyethylene and polychloroprene, and chromic anhydride. Such compositions are suitable for use as insulation layers surrounding the conductor of an electrical cable and as sheath materials surrounding the insulation layer.

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical insulation compositions and electrical cables comprising same The present invention is concerned with electrical insulation compositions which are suitable for use as insulation layers surrounding the conductors of electrical cables and as sheaths surrounding such insulation layers, and with electrical cables comprising such compositions. The invention is more particularly concerned with insulation compositions and cables comprising same which have reduced fume emission in the event of fire.
Known compositions for insulation layers and sheaths of reduced fume emission cables generally comprise a mixture of one or more polymers and hydrated alumina. The hydrated alumina reduces the combustibility of the mixture and hence the amount of fumes which are formed. In the event of a fire, the hydrated alumina decomposes into alumina and water by an endothermic reaction which abstracts heat and hence counteracts the fire. The evolution of water in the decomposition of the hydrated alumina reduces the amount of soot which is formed in the course of burning and therefore serves to increase the transparency of the fumes which are formed.
Obtaining transparent fumes in the event of a cable fire is important, particularly where the cable is in an enclosed environment, so that the location of the fire and the operation of fire extinguishing equipment by those present is facilitated.
Known compositions for insulation layers and sheaths for electrical cables, and known electrical cables provided with such insulation layers and/or sheaths, do not provide a satisfactory solution to the problem of obtaining transparent fumes if the cable should be ignited.
We have now developed an electrical insulation composition which, when used for insulation layers and/or sheaths of electrical cables, gives more transparent fumes when such a cable is ignited.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electrical insulation composition, which comprises at least one polymer selected from ethylene/propylene rubber, ethylene/propylene/diene rubber, polyethylene, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulphonated polyethylene and polychloroprene, and chromic anhydride.
The present invention also comprises an electrical cable which comprises a conductor and an insulation layer surrounding the conductor, the insulation layer being formed of a composition according to the invention in which the polymer is one or more of ethylene/propylene rubber, ethylene/propylene/diene rubber, polyethylene, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymers, and ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers, and such a cable which further comprises a sheath surrounding the insulation layer, the sheath being formed of a composition according to the invention in which the polymer is one or more of polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulphonated polyethylene, and polychloroprene.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of electrical cable will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the single Figure of the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of the cable, with portions cut away.
As will be seen from the Figure, the electrical cable comprises a conductor 1 consisting, for example, of a wire of conducting material or of a bundle or wires of conducting material in contact with one another and covered with an insulation layer 2 which, in turn, is covered with a sheath 3.
The insulation layer 2 consists, in general, of a mixture comprising a polymer of the type normally used for the production of insulation layers for electrical cables, and also containing chromic anhydride.
It is preferred that the insulation layer 2 should consists of a mixture comprising one or more polymers selected from ethylene/propylene rubber, ethylene/propylene/diene rubber, polyethylene, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymers and ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers, and containing from 01 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 4 parts by weight, of chromic anhydride per 100 parts by weight of the base polymer.
A mixture which is particularly suitable for the production of insulation layers of cables is that shown below, in which the amounts shown are expressed as parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of base polymer.
Ethylene/propylene rubber 100 Calcium carbonate 80 Dicumyl peroxide 2.8 Zinc oxide 4 Stearic acid I Crosslinking agent 2 Antioxidant 1 Hydrogenated alumina 70 Chromic anhydride 3 The sheath 3 of the cable consists, in general, of a mixture comprising a polymer of the type normally used for the production of sheaths of electrical cables, and also containing chromic anhydride.
It is preferred that the sheath 3 should consist of a mixture comprising one or more polymers selected from polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulphonated polyethylene, and polychloroprene, and containing from 0.1 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 4 parts by weight, of chromic anhydride per 100 parts by weight of the base polymer.
A mixture which is particularly suitable for the production of sheaths of electrical cables is that shown below, in which the amounts shown are expressed as parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of base polymer.
Chlorosulphonated polyethylene 100 Trioctyi trimellitate 1 5 Talc 30 Nickel dibutyldithiocarbamate 2 Accelerator 3 Chromic anhydride 3 Using the specific preferred mixtures mentioned above, namely the mixture for the production of the insulation layer of a cable according to the invention and the mixture for the production of the sheath of a cable according to the invention, experimental tests were carried out according to Standard Specification 258-1976 of the National Fire Protection Association (N.F.P.A.).
For these tests, samples consisting of square plaques 3 mm thick and having a side length of 76.2 mm, were prepared from the specified compositions.
The samples were introduced into a measuring apparatus which is descirbed in the standard specification mentioned above and comprises a tightly closed parailelepiped chamber containing a support for the sample and six small burners, the flame of which is produced by combustion of a mixture of propane and air.
In addition there is present within the tightly closed chamber, and corresponding to the sample, a device for providing radiant energy and consisting essentially of a small tube of ceramic material within which is located a resistance supplied with electric current.
The parallelepiped chamber is provided, on its bottom wall and on the wall opposite thereto, with strips of transparent material so as to allow the passage of a beam of light through the chamber. For this purpose there is provided, below the bottom wall of the parallelepiped chamber, a light source of predetermined luminous intensity, whilst above the upper wall of the chamber there is a photometer which measures the intensity of the light which is incident thereon after having passed through the chamber; the measurement can be expressed as the specific optical density of the material present in the said chamber.
The tests using the apparatus briefly described above were carried out as follows.
The samples were subjected to preliminary drying for 24 hours at a temperature of 600C and were then conditioned by being placed in an environment at a temperature of 230C and a relative humidity of 50%.
After the above treatment, the test was carried out with each sample introduced into the parallelepiped chamber, with the burners lit and with the device providing radiant energy in operation, and the specific optical density of the fumes after four minutes from the start of the test, and the maximum specific optical density of the fumes, were measured by means of the photometer located above the chamber.
Identical tests were carried out with the same apparatus on known insulating materials for cables and known materials for cable sheaths, so as to determine the specific optical density of the fumes after four minutes from the start of the test and the maximum specific optical density of the fumes.
As known insulation materials for cables there were used two mixtures corresponding exactly to the specific insulation layer and sheath compositions set out above, but without the chromic anhydride.
In addition, for both the mixtures according to the invention and the mixtures of the known type, the oxygen index was determined by the procedure of Standard Specification ASTM D 2863.
The mean results of the tests are as shown in the table below.
D4 Dm L.O.I.
mixture according to the invention, 6 60 26 for the insulation layer of electrical cables mixture according to the invention 23.5 357 25 for the sheaths of electrical cables known mixture for insulation 1 50 300 28 layer of electrical cables known mixture for sheaths 400 > 500 27 of electrical cables In this table: D4 is the specific optical density of the fumes after 4 minutes from the start of the test, Dm is the maximum specific optical density of the fumes, and L.O.I., usually referred to as the oxygen index, represents the minimum amount of oxygen which is needed in a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen in order to allow the combustion of a sample as defined in Standard Specification ASTM D2863.
It will be seen from the foregoing results that the maximum specific optical density of the fumes obtained on the combustion of the insulation layer and sheath compositions according to the invention is markedly lower than that obtained with the known insulation layer and sheath compositions. From this it follows that a cable which is insulated and/or provided with a sheath according to the invention produces a satisfactorily low level of opaque fumes when the cable is present in an environment where there is a fire.
The results obtained by means of the present invention are surprising in that it is not possible to give a reliable explanation of the reasons why the presence of chromic anhydride reduces the formation of soot, which is the cause of opaque fumes, in the exceptional manner demonstrated by the experimental tests.
One possible explanation is that the chromic anhydride acts, directly or indirectly, as a catalyst which counteracts the formation of aromatic compounds during the pyrolysis of the composition, the decomposition of which aromatic compounds give rise to the soot.

Claims (9)

1. An electrical insulation composition, which comprises at least one polymer selected from ethylene/propylene rubber, ethylene/propylene/diene rubber, polyethylene, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulphonated polyethylene and polychloroprene, and chromic anhydride.
2. A composition according to claim 1, which comprises from 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of chromic anhydride per 100 parts by weight of polymer.
3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, which comprises from 1 to 4 parts by weight of chromic anhydride per 1 a0 parts by weight of polymer.
4. A composition according to any of claims 1 to 3, which comprises, in parts by weight: ethylene/propylene rubber 100 calcium carbonate 80 dicumyl peroxide 2.8 zinc oxide 4 stearic acid 1 cross-linking agent 2 antioxidant 1 hydrated alumina 70 chromic anhydride 3
5. A composition, according to any of claims 1 to 3, which comprises, in parts by weight: chlorosulphonated polyethylene 100 trioctyl trimellitate 1 5 talc 30 nickel dibutyldithiocarbanate 2 accelerator 3 chromic anhydride 3
6.An electrical cable which comprises a conductor and an insulation layer surrounding the conductor, the insulation layer being formed of a composition according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which the polymer is one or more of ethylene/propylene rubber, ethylene/propylene/olene rubber, polyethylene, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymers, and ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers.
7. An electrical cable according to claim 6, in which the insulation layer is formed of a composition according to claim 4.
8. An electrical cable according to claim 6 or 7, which further comprises a sheath surrounding the insulation layer, the sheath being formed of a composition according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the polymer is one or more of polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulphonated polyethylene, and polychloroprene.
9. An electrical cable according to claim 8, in which the sheath is formed of a composition according to claim 5.
GB08225446A 1981-10-27 1982-09-07 Fire retardant compositions with reduced smoke emission Expired GB2108130B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT24727/81A IT1139567B (en) 1981-10-27 1981-10-27 MATERIAL FOR INSULATORS AND SHEATHS OF ELECTRIC CABLES AND ELECTRIC CABLES EQUIPPED WITH INSULATORS AND SHEATHS IN SUCH MATERIAL

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2108130A true GB2108130A (en) 1983-05-11
GB2108130B GB2108130B (en) 1985-01-03

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GB08225446A Expired GB2108130B (en) 1981-10-27 1982-09-07 Fire retardant compositions with reduced smoke emission

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FR (1) FR2515410A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2108130B (en)
IT (1) IT1139567B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0287813A2 (en) * 1987-03-24 1988-10-26 Asea Brown Boveri Ab Electrical conductor provided with a surrounding electrical insulation

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3971882A (en) * 1972-12-20 1976-07-27 The Okonite Company Electrical cable having an outer sheath with improved pyrolysis properties

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0287813A2 (en) * 1987-03-24 1988-10-26 Asea Brown Boveri Ab Electrical conductor provided with a surrounding electrical insulation
EP0287813A3 (en) * 1987-03-24 1990-06-27 Asea Brown Boveri Ab Electrical conductor provided with a surrounding electrical insulation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1139567B (en) 1986-09-24
IT8124727A0 (en) 1981-10-27
FR2515410A1 (en) 1983-04-29
FR2515410B1 (en) 1985-05-03
GB2108130B (en) 1985-01-03

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