BETTER THAN WHAT FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS ALLOW

Pinneberg, September 2023
For many applications, plastics must exhibit a certain level of flame resistance. ROMIRA has achieved an extremely useful product innovation in this area: The specialist in engineering plastics has developed a V-0 additive package for a PC-GF compound that contains no halogen-containing substances or products listed as SVHCs. Furthermore, the V-0 rating is achieved with a product that has excellent flow properties, which in turn facilitates good injection molding processing.

The PC-GF, V-0 compound refers to a composite material consisting of polycarbonate and 10% glass fiber reinforcement. This composite material meets the V-0 flame retardancy rating according to the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 94 standard, which indicates very low flammability, as the material is self-extinguishing and flame spread is limited.

To achieve fire resistance, suitable additives must be added to plastics that are not inherently fire-resistant—that is, all plastics with an oxygen index between 40 and 30. These additives must be environmentally compatible and must not pose a health hazard, especially in the event of a fire. The latter requirement is characterized by the absence of halogens and the absence of SVHC listings. SVHC stands for “substances of very high concern,” which are suspected of having adverse and long-lasting effects on human health or the environment and for which appropriate safety measures must be taken during handling. SVHC substances are published on the so-called REACH Candidate List or SVHC List. If such a substance is used, or if it is used in mixtures and articles, this results in far-reaching information obligations for manufacturers and suppliers, as well as a right to information for downstream users and consumers.

Conventional products on the market contain halogenated substances and/or substances listed as SVHCs. ROMIRA now offers an attractive alternative: ROTEC® PC 7040 GF10 FR not only features a non-hazardous, environmentally friendly flame retardant and excellent impact resistance, but also offers processability at lower temperatures between 260 and 280°C while maintaining consistent flow properties. This gentle processing at low temperatures offers the advantage of lower energy consumption, and the products manufactured in this way also exhibit greater color stability.

All of these properties make the PC-GF, V-0 compound particularly well-suited for applications that require fire resistance, mechanical strength, and high impact resistance, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including:

  • Electrical and Electronic Enclosures: Thanks to its UL V-0 rating and glass-fiber reinforcement, ROTEC® PC 7040 GF10 FR is ideal for the manufacture of electrical and electronic enclosures, control panels, and components. It offers both mechanical strength and fire resistance, which are of great importance in such applications.
  • Automotive Industry: ROTEC® PC 7040 GF10 FR can be used in the automotive industry, particularly for applications that must meet fire safety requirements. Examples include interior trim, vehicle interior components, and electrical components.
  • Industrial Applications: Thanks to its glass fiber reinforcement and fire-retardant properties, ROTEC® PC 7040 GF10 FR is well-suited for a variety of industrial applications, such as the manufacture of housings, protective covers, components, and panels, where both strength and fire resistance are important.