Flame-Retardant Polyolefin Resin Composition for Multi-Line Cable Fire Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flame retardant resin compositions that pass vertical tests for single wires often fail to provide sufficient flame retardancy when multiple cables are laid together, as they do not effectively prevent fire propagation due to heat interaction between cables.

Innovation Solution

A flame retardant resin composition combining polyolefin resin with calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, a silicone-based compound, a fatty acid-containing compound, and a zinc-containing inorganic compound at specific ratios, which forms a barrier layer and promotes endothermic reactions to hinder fire propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional flame retardant resin composition (calcium carbonate + silicone-based compound) is used, then vertical test for single wire passes, but flame propagation occurs in multiple-line laying

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidfire propagation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple flame retardant materials (calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium stearate, silicone-based compound) in specific proportions to create a composite flame retardant system. This composite approach leverages the synergistic effects of different materials: calcium carbonate provides thermal stability and forms protective char, aluminum hydroxide releases water vapor to cool and suppress flames, magnesium stearate forms a protective layer, and silicone-based compound enhances flame retardancy. The combination achieves both single-wire and multi-line fire resistance that individual materials cannot accomplish alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the proportions of each flame retardant component to achieve the desired fire resistance performance. Specifically, it uses calcium carbonate at 5-80 parts by mass, aluminum hydroxide at 50-125 parts by mass, magnesium stearate at 3-20 parts by mass, and silicone-based compound at 1-10 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of polyolefin resin. This precise parameter optimization ensures the composition passes both single-wire vertical tests and multi-line fire propagation tests while maintaining mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high content of flame retardant additives is added to improve flame retardancy, then fire propagation is suppressed, but mechanical characteristics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidmechanical characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the total content and individual proportions of flame retardant additives to balance fire resistance and mechanical properties. The optimized formulation uses flame retardants totaling 59-235 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of polyolefin resin, with specific ranges for each component. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient flame retardancy while preventing excessive additive content that would compromise mechanical strength and integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The use of a composite flame retardant system allows each component to contribute differently to the overall performance. Calcium carbonate and aluminum hydroxide provide fire suppression through different mechanisms (char formation and water vapor release), while magnesium stearate and silicone-based compound enhance the effect. This composite approach achieves high flame retardancy with a distributed additive system rather than relying on a single high-concentration additive, thereby preserving mechanical properties.

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 enhanced flame retardancy and mechanical characteristics, effectively preventing fire propagation in multiple-line cable layouts while maintaining excellent mechanical properties.

Implementation Method 1

aluminum hydroxide blended at a ratio of 50 parts by mass or more and 125 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEndothermic reaction: Endothermic Reaction

Implementation Method 2

the calcium carbonate particles and aluminum hydroxide are blended in total at a ratio of 55 parts by mass or more and 130 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBarrier layer formation:

Data Source

PatentEP3222661B1Flame-retardant resin composition, cable and optical fiber cable using same
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 FUJIKURA LTD
  • EP3222661B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3222661B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3222661B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a flame retardant resin composition comprising a polyolefin resin, calcium carbonate particles blended at a ratio of 5 parts by mass or more and 80 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, aluminum hydroxide blended at a ratio of 50 parts by mass or more and 125 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, a silicone-based compound blended at a ratio of more than 1 part by mass and 10 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin, a fatty acid-containing compound blended at a ratio of 3 parts by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less, and a zinc-containing inorganic compound blended at a ratio of 1 part by mass or more and 7 parts by mass or less. In the flame retardant resin composition, the calcium carbonate particles and aluminum hydroxide are blended in total at a ratio of 55 parts by mass or more and 130 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyolefin resin.