Cable Component Non-Flammable Fiberglass Separator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional communication cables face issues with crosstalk interference due to electromagnetic coupling and require flame retardant materials that are often toxic and expensive, such as halogenated fluoropolymers, which also pose risks during burns.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating non-flammable materials like flexible fiberglass portions into cable separators to reduce the fuel load and replace toxic halogenated materials, maintaining flexibility and improving burn performance while meeting industry standards for flame resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If flame retardant materials like fluoropolymers are used in cable separators, then burn resistance is improved, but toxic halogen emissions and melting/dripping occur during combustion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburn resistanceVSAvoidtoxic halogen emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines non-flammable fiberglass material with flame retardant polymer material to create a composite separator. The fiberglass provides structural integrity and non-flammability, while the polymer matrix provides flame retardancy. This composite approach eliminates toxic halogen emissions by replacing halogenated fluoropolymers with halogen-free polymer matrices filled with fiberglass reinforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If halogenated fluoropolymers are used for flame retardancy, then burn test requirements are met, but material cost increases due to high demand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburn test complianceVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes expensive halogenated fluoropolymers with more economical halogen-free polymer matrices combined with fiberglass reinforcement. This replacement reduces material costs while maintaining compliance with burn test requirements through the synergistic flame retardant properties of the composite structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If more insulation material is used in separators, then flame retardancy is improved, but fuel load increases worsening burn performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidfuel load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates fiberglass reinforcement within the polymer matrix, creating a composite structure with reduced overall material volume. The fiberglass provides structural support and flame resistance, allowing reduction of the polymer insulation material volume while maintaining or improving flame retardancy performance and reducing fuel load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Data Source

PatentEP2788990B1Cable component with non-flammable material
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 GENERAL CABLE TECH CORP
  • EP2788990B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2788990B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B
  • EP2788990B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A cable component that comprises a main body where at least a part of the main body is formed of an insulation material, and at least one non-flammable portion is disposed in the insulation material of the main body. The non-flammable portion forms at least about 25% by volume of the cable component, is flexible, and reduces the amount of the insulation material of the main body, thereby reducing the fuel load in the cable component.