A comparison of four commonly used cable flame retardants

I. Antimony-based flame retardants

Advantages: Antimony trioxide cannot be used as a flame retardant alone. However, when used in combination with appropriate halogen compounds, it can exhibit particularly effective flame retardant properties. Antimony-based flame retardant synergistic mechanism disadvantages: Heavy metal, toxic, homologues of arsenic, crude products generally contain arsenic and other heavy metals, arsenic trioxide is arsenic trioxide. It cannot be used as a green filler or a green flame retardant.

Ii. Aluminum Hydroxide Flame Retardant (ATH)

Advantages: Low price and good flame retardancy.

Disadvantages: Poor heat resistance, begins to dehydrate at 200℃, and is completely dehydrated at 330℃ to 350℃. However, the curing of the resin mostly occurs within the dehydration temperature range of aluminum hydroxide, which leads to foaming inside the finished synthetic resin, uneven surface, decreased dielectric properties, and low yield. It is applied to situations where high temperatures cause fogging of silicone, whitening and bubbling of products, and a decline in dielectric properties, etc. EC≈60-100μS/cm, easily hygroscopic.

Iii. Magnesium Hydroxide Flame Retardant

Advantages: Magnesium hydroxide flame retardant application (decomposes at 430℃) is non-toxic

Disadvantages: It is not acid-resistant. Even acetic acid can dissolve magnesium hydroxide, making it only suitable for low-end products. It is prone to moisture absorption, has poor dispersion and poor dielectric properties.

4. High-temperature resistant Boehmite flame retardant (Boehmite, ALOOH

Advantages: The 1% dehydration temperature can reach over 350℃, with the peak dehydration at 500℃. The EC is less than 50μS/cm. It has strong dielectric properties, solving the problem of product defects and reduced dielectric properties of aluminum hydroxide caused by low dehydration temperature. It has strong acid and alkali resistance.

Disadvantage: Its flame retardancy is slightly lower than that of aluminium hydroxide. To achieve the same flame retardant performance, more is required. However, its most prominent feature is high heat resistance, as well as thermal conductivity and acid and alkali resistance. When made into high-heat-resistant functional materials, it can increase the added value of the product.