Materials: First Flame-Retardant TPE to Meet Standard for Railway Applications
Kraiburg’s new FR2 series offers both UL 94 VO at 1.5 mm wall thickness and DIN 45545-2 for railway applications.
Boasting its extensive experience in the development of TPEs with halogen-free flame-retardant properties, Kraiburg TPE (U.S. office in Duluth, Ga.) has expanded its portfolio with the launch of a new series, with a V-0 nonflammability classification at wall thicknesses of 1.5mm in accordance with UL standard 94 V-0 for multi-component applications with polypropylene.
Reportedly, the Thermolast K FR2 series is the only TPE material on the market that meets DIN EN 45545-2 for railway applications. The specially developed materials meet the requirements of R22 and R23 for hazard levels HL1-3 with a wall thickness of up to 3 mm. More specifically, this makes it possible to implement sealing applications in the interior and exterior of trains, regardless of their design and operating class.
The first railway applications have already been implemented: TPE compounds from the FR2 series are being used as sealing materials in cable glands and bushings. The materials of this flame-retardant series are produced at all three Kraiburg TPE production sites in Germany, Malaysia and the USA.
UL94 V-0 listed materials are self-extinguishing in case of fire and do not form into burning droplets. Kraiburg TPE flame-retardant compounds comply with the IEC 61249-2-21 standard’s definition of halogen-free. If a fire breaks out, this means more safety for people involved, as less disorientating smoke develops and the flue gas is less toxic. In addition, flame retardants that are free of chlorine and bromine minimize the potential risk of damage to furniture and the building fabric caused by corrosive flue gases that develop when halogenated substances are burned. Also, their corrosiveness can even have a negative impact on maintaining the properties of old materials and their commercial usability, for example when recycling disused railways. The specialized Thermolast K materials meet these requirements even without halogenated flame-retardants being used.
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