Halogen-Free Cables: How, What, When, and Why?
What Are Halogens?
Halogens are elements such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. They appear in the seventh main group of the periodic table. These elements are commonly found in chemical compounds, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is often used for insulation and sheath material in cables. However, the use of halogens comes with health risks.Get more news about
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What Is a Halogen-Free Cable?
As the name suggests, halogen-free cables are composed of plastics that do not contain halogens. Plastics containing halogens can be identified by the chemical elements in their names, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chloroprene rubber, fluoroethylene propylene, and fluoro polymer rubber. In contrast, halogen-free cables consist of plastics like silicone rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), or ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM). These materials do not contain heavy metal-based stabilizers or softeners, and their flame protection additives are environmentally safe.
How Are Halogen-Free Cables Designated?
Various market designations exist for halogen-free cables, depending on the manufacturer. Some common designations include:
HF: Halogen-free
LAPP products, for instance, are identified by the letter “H” in the product designation. For example, the control cable “ÖLFLEX CLASSIC 110 H” or the NHXM H-sheathed cables serve as halogen-free alternatives to PVC installation cables.
Halogen-free cable glands are identified by the letters “HF.” The SKINTOP® ST-HF-M cable gland and SILVYN® heat-shrinkable tubes are flame-retardant, self-extinguishing, and halogen-free, ensuring high functional reliability.
