Flame-Retardant Polyolefin Resin Composition for Optical Fiber Cables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flame-retardant resin compositions for cables and optical fiber cables face challenges in balancing mechanical characteristics and flame retardancy, as increasing the amount of flame retardants improves flame retardancy but deteriorates mechanical properties.

Innovation Solution

A flame-retardant resin composition is developed by blending a triazine ring containing hindered amine compound, calcium carbonate, and a silicone compound into a polyolefin resin at specific ratios, forming a barrier layer and capturing oxygen radicals to enhance flame retardancy while maintaining mechanical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the addition amount of flame retardant is increased, then flame retardancy is improved, but mechanical characteristics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidmechanical characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite flame retardant system comprising calcium carbonate particles, silicone compound, fatty acid containing compound, and triazine ring containing hindered amine compound. This composite approach creates synergistic effects where each component contributes to flame retardancy through different mechanisms (barrier formation, radical scavenging, char production), achieving superior flame protection without requiring excessive amounts of any single additive that would harm mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes the particle size parameters of calcium carbonate (1.0-3.0 μm average diameter) and controls the blending ratios of all flame retardant components relative to polyolefin resin. By precisely controlling these parameters, the formulation achieves effective flame retardancy at lower total additive levels, thereby preserving the mechanical characteristics of the polyolefin resin matrix.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the blending amount of triazine ring containing hindered amine compound is increased, then flame retardancy is improved, but mechanical characteristics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidmechanical characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention precisely controls the blending amount of triazine ring containing hindered amine compound within 0.05-10 parts by mass per 100 parts of polyolefin resin, with optimal ranges of 0.1-5 parts and particularly 0.1-3 parts. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient flame retardancy through radical scavenging mechanism while minimizing the negative impact on mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The triazine ring containing hindered amine compound works synergistically with calcium carbonate, silicone compound, and fatty acid containing compound. This composite flame retardant system distributes the flame protection function across multiple components, allowing the hindered amine compound to be used at lower levels while maintaining effective flame retardancy, thus preserving mechanical characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition achieves excellent mechanical characteristics and flame retardancy, allowing for reduced triazine ring containing hindered amine compound usage while providing superior flame protection.

Implementation Method 1

when a triazine ring containing hindered amine compound including an oxygen atom is contained in the present composition, oxygen radicals are generated from the triazine ring containing hindered amine compound at the time of combustion of the flame-retardant resin composition, and as those oxygen radicals capture hydrogen radicals that are generated due to decomposition of the polyolefin resin at the time of combustion, combustion of the polyolefin resin is suppressed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadical scavenging: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

when calcium carbonate particles, a silicone compound, and a fatty acid containing compound are contained in the present composition, a barrier layer is formed on a surface of the polyolefin resin at the time of combustion of the flame-retardant resin composition so that combustion of the polyolefin resin is suppressed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBarrier layer formation: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3287487B1Flame-retardant resin composition and cable using same, and optical fiber cable
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 FUJIKURA LTD
  • EP3287487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3287487B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3287487B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a flame retardant resin composition containing a polyolefin resin, a silicone compound, a fatty acid containing compound, calcium carbonate, and a triazine ring containing hindered amine compound. In this flame retardant resin composition, the silicone compound is blended at a ratio of 1.5 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, the fatty acid containing compound is blended at a ratio of 3 parts by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, the calcium carbonate is blended at a ratio of 10 parts by mass or more and less than 120 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, the triazine ring containing hindered amine compound is blended at a ratio of 0.05 part by mass or more and less than 10 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, and the triazine ring containing hindered amine compound includes an oxygen atom.