Gianluca Sarti

In public opinion and among the "recognized" experts in the field, there has always been a persistent perception that PVC cables are inherently more "toxic" and less "safe" than their halogen-free counterparts. That perception, rooted mainly in misconceptions and non-scientific data, focuses on the smoke production, toxicity, and acidity of effluents resulting from the combustion of PVC cables. This paper works primarily to confute such false impressions and highlights that acidity is a… Visualizza altro

In public opinion and among the "recognized" experts in the field, there has always been a persistent perception that PVC cables are inherently more "toxic" and less "safe" than their halogen-free counterparts. That perception, rooted mainly in misconceptions and non-scientific data, focuses on the smoke production, toxicity, and acidity of effluents resulting from the combustion of PVC cables. This paper works primarily to confute such false impressions and highlights that acidity is a secondary parameter in fire safety, with carbon monoxide emerging as the leading threat in the effluents produced during a fire. In fact, controlling various parameters, particularly heat release, proves to be the most effective strategy in preventing a minor fire from escalating and causing fatalities, injuries, production halts, property and heritage damage, and environmental impacts. The study also reveals that the smoke production of PVC cables can be significantly mitigated, almost aligning with halogen-free cables, through the strategic use of appropriate flame retardants and smoke suppressants. Furthermore, this research comprehensively reviews the thermal decomposition and combustion mechanisms of PVC compounds to elucidate the requisite characteristics of flame retardants, smoke suppressants, and specifically acid scavengers at high temperatures, which effectively scavenge hydrogen chloride, lowering the smoke acidity. Finally, the discussion extends to EN 60754-2, the standard employed in the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) to assess indirectly the acidity. Detailed scrutiny reveals the profound impact of varying temperatures and heating regimes on hydrogen chloride emissions in the gas phase, casting doubt on the reliability of EN 60754-2 as a tool for assessing acidity in real fire scenarios. Meno dettagli

PVC items (38% carbon atoms w/w) are environmentally friendly as, unlike polyolefins (86% carbon atoms w/w), they are mainly based on chlorine, one of the most abundant elements on Earth and, so, less based on fossil resources. However, in the eco-design context, articles’ durability plays a crucial role, contributing to the enhancement of their sustainability. In this framework, the research on additives capable of increasing the weatherability of outdoor articles is essential. The theory… Visualizza altro

PVC items (38% carbon atoms w/w) are environmentally friendly as, unlike polyolefins (86% carbon atoms w/w), they are mainly based on chlorine, one of the most abundant elements on Earth and, so, less based on fossil resources. However, in the eco-design context, articles’ durability plays a crucial role, contributing to the enhancement of their sustainability. In this framework, the research on additives capable of increasing the weatherability of outdoor articles is essential. The theory section of the paper reviews the mechanisms of weathering that lead to PVC degradation and undermine the durability of items such as window frames or roller shutters. The weathering of PVCitems is a complex phenomenon, involving photo-chemical and secondary chemical reactions, that yields the formation of conjugated polyene sequences underskin in the absence of oxygen and carbonyls in the surface. Here, the chain scission of the polymer backbone occurs, bringing about the disintegration of the surface of the item and causing the typical discoloration called chalking, especially evident in dark-colored articles. In the experimental section of the paper, the effect of different acid scavengers on item weathering has been studied using a natural outdoor and two accelerated exposures with xenon-arc and Q-UV testing devices. Results confirm that some acid scavengers are efficient in preventing chalking, but some are ineffective or even detrimental. Thus, the PVC formulations of durable articles upon weathering still depend on a complex choice of the appropriate ingredients, and several outdoor and indoor accelerated-weathering tests are needed to predict the articles’ lifetime. Meno dettagli

In the context of substituting antimony trioxide (ATO), identified as a problematic substance, Reagens S.p.A. has innovatively formulated a new class of flame retardants for PVC compounds. Specifically known as Reaguards, these flame retardants present a promising alternative, rivaling ATO in fire performance while concurrently acting as smoke suppressants, diminishing smoke production during combustion. This study assesses the fire properties of these novel flame retardants utilizing the LOI… Visualizza altro

In the context of substituting antimony trioxide (ATO), identified as a problematic substance, Reagens S.p.A. has innovatively formulated a new class of flame retardants for PVC compounds. Specifically known as Reaguards, these flame retardants present a promising alternative, rivaling ATO in fire performance while concurrently acting as smoke suppressants, diminishing smoke production during combustion. This study assesses the fire properties of these novel flame retardants utilizing the LOI test apparatus, cone calorimetry (CC), and micro-combustion calorimetry (MCC). A variety of metrics, including oxygen index (OI), time to ignition (TTI), time to peak (TTP), peak heat release rate (pHRR), fire growth rate (FIGRA), total smoke production (TSP), peak smoke production rate (pSPR), SMOGRA, specific (total) heat release, and specific heat release of fuel gases, are employed to compare the performance of ATO-based and ATO-free formulations. Particularly, MCC is employed to monitor the decomposition/combustion of PVC compounds, elucidating the influence of the novel flame retardants on the specific heat release rate curve. Notably, the incorporation of Reaguards has a negligible impact on the fundamental properties of these compounds, and they can synergistically be utilized with common flame-retardant fillers such as MDH and ATH. This research contributes significantly to the advancement of new PVC compounds, empowering the PVC value chain to compete effectively with other flame retarded plastics in terms of both performance and sustainability. Meno dettagli

PVC items are environmentally friendly as, unlike polyolefins, they are mainly based on chlorine, one of the most abundant elements on earth. However, in the eco-design context, articles' durability plays the crucial role, contributing to the enhancement of their sustainability. In this framework the research on additives capable of increasing the weatherability of outdoor articles is essential. The theory section of the paper reviews the mechanisms of weathering leading to PVC degradation that… Visualizza altro

PVC items are environmentally friendly as, unlike polyolefins, they are mainly based on chlorine, one of the most abundant elements on earth. However, in the eco-design context, articles' durability plays the crucial role, contributing to the enhancement of their sustainability. In this framework the research on additives capable of increasing the weatherability of outdoor articles is essential. The theory section of the paper reviews the mechanisms of weathering leading to PVC degradation that undermine the durability of items such as window frames or roller shutters. The weathering of PVC items is a complex phenomenon involving photo-chemical and secondary chemical reactions, that yields the formation of conjugated polyene sequences underskin in absence of oxygen and carbonyls in the surface. Here the chain scission of the polymer backbone occurs, bringing the disintegration of the surface of the item and causing the typical discoloration called chalking, especially evident in dark-colored articles. In the experimental section of the paper the effect of different acid scavengers on the item weathering has been studied with natural outdoor and two accelerated exposures, xenon-arc and Q-UV testing devices. Results confirm that some acid scavengers are efficient in preventing chalking, but some are ineffective or even detrimental. Thus, the PVC formulations of durable articles upon weathering still depend on a complex choice of the appropriate ingredients, and several outdoor and indoor accelerated weathering tests are needed to predict the articles' lifetime. Meno dettagli

In light of replacing antimony trioxide (ATO), which is considered a problematic substance, Reagens S.p.A. has developed a novel class of flame retardants for PVC compounds. Specifically, these flame retardants, called Reaguard, are a promising solution, competing with ATO in terms of fire performance while also acting as smoke suppressants, reducing smoke production during combustion. This paper evaluates the fire properties of these novel flame retardants using the LOI test apparatus, cone… Visualizza altro

In light of replacing antimony trioxide (ATO), which is considered a problematic substance, Reagens S.p.A. has developed a novel class of flame retardants for PVC compounds. Specifically, these flame retardants, called Reaguard, are a promising solution, competing with ATO in terms of fire performance while also acting as smoke suppressants, reducing smoke production during combustion. This paper evaluates the fire properties of these novel flame retardants using the LOI test apparatus, cone calorimetry (CC), and micro-combustion calorimetry (MCC). Various measures, such as oxygen index (OI), time to ignition (TTI), time to peak (TTP), peak of heat release rate (pHRR), fire growth rate (FIGRA), total smoke production (TSP), peak of smoke production rate (pSPR), SMOGRA, specific (total) heat release, and specific heat release of fuel gases, are employed to compare the performances of ATO-based and ATO-free formulations. Particularly, MCC has been adopted to track the decomposition/combustion of PVC compounds, highlighting the impact of the novel flame retardants on the specific heat release rate curve. The tested formulations represent typical compounds used for manufacturing harmonized cables in the European Union (EU), specifically jacket and insulation compounds of several harmonized standards. Importantly, the introduction of Reaguards does not significantly affect the main properties of these compounds, and they synergistically can be used with common flame-retardant fillers like MDH and ATH. This research contributes to the development of new products for PVC cables, helping our PVC value chain to compete with halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) in terms of performance and sustainability. Meno dettagli

The combustion of PVC cables in fires results in the release of hydrogen chloride gas. In the European Union, Regulation (EU) No 305/2011, in force since 2017, requires the classification of cables permanently installed in buildings for reaction to fire, smoke, flaming droplets, and acidity. The additional classification for acidity is evaluated through EN 60754-2, involving pH and conductivity measurements. This study focuses on the essential research and development of low-smoke acidity PVC… Visualizza altro

The combustion of PVC cables in fires results in the release of hydrogen chloride gas. In the European Union, Regulation (EU) No 305/2011, in force since 2017, requires the classification of cables permanently installed in buildings for reaction to fire, smoke, flaming droplets, and acidity. The additional classification for acidity is evaluated through EN 60754-2, involving pH and conductivity measurements. This study focuses on the essential research and development of low-smoke acidity PVC compounds for cables, mainly aiming to meet the stringent additional classifications for acidity, a1 or a2, which cannot be achieved with traditional PVC cables. Understanding the chemistry of thermal decomposition and combustion, especially in the presence of hydrogen chloride scavengers, is crucial for meeting the best acidity classification. The article reviews the current tube furnace tests used in the European Union for cable halogen and acidity assessments. It discusses the limitations of the existing method (EN 60754-2) and highlights the potential of emerging tests such as IEC EN 60754-3, which employs ion chromatography for improved sensitivity and specificity. In the experimental part of the article, various standard and low-smoke acidity cable compounds are tested using tube furnace experiments with different heating regimes. The concentrations of cations and anions in solution are measured through ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry. This detailed analysis aims to identify the species influencing pH and conductivity, which is crucial for designing effective acid scavengers that do not impact conductivity. The conclusive results emphasize that HCl from PVC thermal decomposition is the primary driver of pH and conductivity, and the contribution from the decomposition of additives and byproducts from combustion is found to be negligible in most of the tested PVC compounds for cables. Meno dettagli

The main aim of this study is the understanding of the significance of the initial exposure season on the final results of natural aging, a second one is the significance of the titanium dioxide loading from 7 to 9 phr, a third one is the significance of the stabilizer type (Tin or COS based). We tried to use many different methods to see if one of them evidenced an effect of the variables. Data are in fact analyzed first of all on a visual graphical basis looking the evolution of Delta E with… Visualizza altro

The main aim of this study is the understanding of the significance of the initial exposure season on the final results of natural aging, a second one is the significance of the titanium dioxide loading from 7 to 9 phr, a third one is the significance of the stabilizer type (Tin or COS based). We tried to use many different methods to see if one of them evidenced an effect of the variables. Data are in fact analyzed first of all on a visual graphical basis looking the evolution of Delta E with exposure time. Then, data are then analyzed with some simple mathematical analysis such as: the final level of discoloration, the speed to reach the maximum discoloration, the amplitude of the cyclic change in the color. Then, all these simple mathematic analysis were challenged with a statistical analysis. This was run, starting from the simplest, based only on starting season, or TiO2 loading and gradually including more variables such as exposure months and stabilizer type. We have concluded: That starting season has not a significant effect on discoloration That the increase of TiO2 from 7 to 9 phr has not a significant effect A significant lower stabilization efficiency for one out of 2 Tin stabilizers, while all the others performed in a similar statistical way. In any case I want to point out that also Stabilizer A is perfectly able to provide the stabilization required by norms: all stabilizers perform in line with the requirements of EN 13245-1: in natural aging according to EN 877-2 (for a codification at least N,21,25): in fact they all maintain a delta E lower than 4 at the end of 4 years exposure. Moreover, the discoloration of all samples is fully compliant also under accelerated weathering with Xenotest according to EN 513: in fact they all maintain a Delta E lower than 6 Meno dettagli

Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 lays down harmonized conditions for marketing construction products in the European Union. One of its consequences has been the introduction of the product standard EN 50575 and standard EN 130501-6, concerning power, control, and communication cables permanently installed in buildings to prevent the risk of a fire and its consequences. EN 13501-6 provides the reaction to fire classifications for cables, the test methods to be performed, the requirements to meet a… Visualizza altro

Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 lays down harmonized conditions for marketing construction products in the European Union. One of its consequences has been the introduction of the product standard EN 50575 and standard EN 130501-6, concerning power, control, and communication cables permanently installed in buildings to prevent the risk of a fire and its consequences. EN 13501-6 provides the reaction to fire classifications for cables, the test methods to be performed, the requirements to meet a specific reaction to fire, and additional classifications for smoke production, flaming droplets, and acidity. It requires EN 60754-2 as the technical standard to assess acidity, and it defines three classes: a1, a2, and a3 (the less performant). Due to the release of hydrogen chloride during the combustion, acidity is the weak point of PVC cables, which are not yet capable of achieving the a1 or a2 classes required for specific locations according to fire risk assessments. ures between 935–965 °C in the tube furnace, where the sample burns, the smoke is collected in bubblers, and pH and conductivity are measured as an indirect assessment of acidity. On the other hand, the temperature regime of EN 60754-1 is a gradual heating run, followed by isothermal heating at 800 °C. The paper shows that when potent acid scavengers are used in PVC compounds, performing EN 60754-2 with the thermal profile of EN 60754-1 or at 500 °C in isothermal conditions, the evolution of hydrogen chloride changes significantly up to 10 times less than the test performed in isothermal at 950 °C. The reason lies behind the kinetic of hydrogen chloride release during the combustion of PVC compounds: the higher the temperature or faster the heat release, the quicker hydrogen chloride evolution and the lower the probability for the acid scavenger to trap it. Thus, these findings emphasize the “fragility” of EN 60754-2 as a tool for assessing risks associated with the release of hydrogen chloride during fires. Meno dettagli

In PVC compounds, hydrogen chloride plays a fundamental role in ·H and ·OH radical trapping, lowering the flame energy during combustion. Furthermore, it yields actual Lewis acids promoting the cross-linking of the polyene sequences from PVC degradation and bringing a char layer, protecting PVC items from flames. Therefore, PVC is inherently flame-retarded. However, plasticized PVC requires flame retardants and smoke suppressants to enhance fire performance. Low-smoke acidity PVC compounds have… Visualizza altro

In PVC compounds, hydrogen chloride plays a fundamental role in ·H and ·OH radical trapping, lowering the flame energy during combustion. Furthermore, it yields actual Lewis acids promoting the cross-linking of the polyene sequences from PVC degradation and bringing a char layer, protecting PVC items from flames. Therefore, PVC is inherently flame-retarded. However, plasticized PVC requires flame retardants and smoke suppressants to enhance fire performance. Low-smoke acidity PVC compounds have been developed to reduce the HCl emission during combustion and, therefore, the acidity of the smoke. They contain potent acid scavengers capable of acting at high temperatures. They react with hydrogen chloride in the condensed phase, making it unavailable in the gas and even in the condensed phase, compromising the reaction to fire and enhancing the smoke produced during the combustion. The effect of the sequestration of hydrogen chloride in PVC compounds for cables by potent acid scavengers is studied in this paper through measurements of oxygen index, heat release, and smoke production. It is noteworthy that the potent acid scavengers strongly affect parameters such as the oxygen index, the fire growth rate in cone calorimetry, the specific (total) heat capacity, and the specific heat of combustion of fuel gases in micro combustion calorimetry. In some formulations, acid scavengers reduce the oxygen index below the values of the formulations without flame retardants and double their fire growth rate. In fact, they neutralize the action of antimony trioxide and Lewis acid precursors commonly used as flame retardants and smoke suppressants in PVC items, making them prone to ignite, release smoke, and spread flame. A new generation of flame retardants and smoke suppressants is needed to keep together the low-smoke acidity and the fire performance in PVC items Meno dettagli

The forecast of the aging behavior of PVC items from the initial stage of formulation design is crucial and relies on accelerated weathering devices. However, running outdoor weathering tests is necessary to achieve more realistic data. Natural aging norms do not specify the initial season of exposure as a parameter, but there are natural outdoor exposure studies outlining the importance of this aspect and indicating that the lowest degradation is obtained when exposure program starts in autumn… Visualizza altro

The forecast of the aging behavior of PVC items from the initial stage of formulation design is crucial and relies on accelerated weathering devices. However, running outdoor weathering tests is necessary to achieve more realistic data. Natural aging norms do not specify the initial season of exposure as a parameter, but there are natural outdoor exposure studies outlining the importance of this aspect and indicating that the lowest degradation is obtained when exposure program starts in autumn and the highest one is observed when exposure starts in winter. Therefore, the first aim of this work is to understand if the initial exposure season affects the final results. Another aim, is the investigation of the effect of titanium dioxide loading to understand if the increase in cost formulation, is worth the stabilization effect. The last goal, is the understanding of the effect of stabilizers’ types: tin-based ones mostly used in North America, compared to Calcium Organic ones mostly utilized in Europe. As for the first aim, neither the graphical comparison of discoloration data, nor their statistical analysis confirmed that starting season has a significant effect on degradation. As for the second aim, the same analysis showed that the increase of titanium dioxide from 7 to 9 phr (parts per 100 parts of PVC) is irrelevant on degradation rate. As for the effect of stabilizer type, our analysis indicated that there is a significant difference among only one tin-based stabilizer compared to the others Meno dettagli

In the European Union, according to Regulation (EU) n. 305/2011, cables permanently installed in residential and public buildings need additional classification for acidity. EN 60754-2 is the test method for assessing acidity, and three classes are provided: a1, a2, and a3 (less performant). The research on PVC compounds with low smoke acidity helps to produce cables in the best additional classes for acidity, giving the PVC cables the possibility to be used in medium and high-fire-risk… Visualizza altro

In the European Union, according to Regulation (EU) n. 305/2011, cables permanently installed in residential and public buildings need additional classification for acidity. EN 60754-2 is the test method for assessing acidity, and three classes are provided: a1, a2, and a3 (less performant). The research on PVC compounds with low smoke acidity helps to produce cables in the best additional classes for acidity, giving the PVC cables the possibility to be used in medium and high-fire-risk locations. This paper shows the behavior of some acid scavengers at high temperatures performing EN 60754-2 in isothermal conditions at different temperatures between 400 ◦C and 950 ◦C. The test apparatus is a tube furnace where the test specimen is burnt, and the released gases are trapped in bubbling devices containing double-deionized water. pH and conductivity are measured, the efficiency of the acid scavengers is assessed, and a chemical analysis of the ashes is performed. That allows us to understand why some substances succeed and others fail in trapping hydrogen chloride (HCl). The most important conclusion in this paper is that the higher the temperature, the lower the performance of the acid scavenger, showing that HCl concentration in the gas phase depends strongly on the heating conditions of the test specimen Meno dettagli

Several misconceptions, fakes, and erroneous data about PVC compounds and their fire behavior are today well rooted in public opinion. Wrong, inaccurate, and imprecise data or statistics on PVC and its additives are even present in some peer-reviewed papers, despite the revolution done in PVC formulations in the last 30 years. That can play a fundamental role in justifying actions by Authorities bringing to possible market restrictions of the PVC items. PVC cables are vulnerable because “a… Visualizza altro

Several misconceptions, fakes, and erroneous data about PVC compounds and their fire behavior are today well rooted in public opinion. Wrong, inaccurate, and imprecise data or statistics on PVC and its additives are even present in some peer-reviewed papers, despite the revolution done in PVC formulations in the last 30 years. That can play a fundamental role in justifying actions by Authorities bringing to possible market restrictions of the PVC items. PVC cables are vulnerable because “a priory” exclusion of PVC compounds inside the technical committees can be done. The conference paper analyzes the flow of information, which can bring these consequences, and the action the PVC world can adopt to cure or prevent the damages. R&D, innovation, and their dissemination up and down must be the watchwords of our value chain. Meno dettagli

The presentation reports some published and unpublished data comparing the performance of several PVC compounds for cables performing EN 60754-2 and EN 60754-2 carried out with the thermal profile of EN 60754-1. In the European Union, EN 60754-2 is the standard for assessing the additional classification for acidity in the regulatory context of the Regulation (EU) n. 305/2011, the construction product regulation, through measurements of pH and conductivities. EN 60754-2 is carried out in… Visualizza altro

The presentation reports some published and unpublished data comparing the performance of several PVC compounds for cables performing EN 60754-2 and EN 60754-2 carried out with the thermal profile of EN 60754-1. In the European Union, EN 60754-2 is the standard for assessing the additional classification for acidity in the regulatory context of the Regulation (EU) n. 305/2011, the construction product regulation, through measurements of pH and conductivities. EN 60754-2 is carried out in isothermal conditions at temperatures between 935 °C and 965 °C. Data clearly show how the absence of a gradual heating run and the severe temperature hinder the acid scavengers in their action to trap hydrogen chloride efficiently. The heating regime of EN 60754-1 and its lower temperatures give the acid scavengers more time to trap hydrogen chloride in the condensed phase, bringing higher pH and lower conductivities. Meno dettagli

In the European Union, according to Regulation (EU) n. 305/2011, cables permanently installed in residential and public buildings need additional classification for acidity. EN 60754-2 is the test method for assessing acidity, and three classes are provided: a1, a2, and a3 (less performant). The research on PVC compounds with low smoke acidity helps to produce cables in the best additional classes for acidity, giving the PVC cables the possibility to be used in medium and high fire risk… Visualizza altro

In the European Union, according to Regulation (EU) n. 305/2011, cables permanently installed in residential and public buildings need additional classification for acidity. EN 60754-2 is the test method for assessing acidity, and three classes are provided: a1, a2, and a3 (less performant). The research on PVC compounds with low smoke acidity helps to produce cables in the best additional classes for acidity, giving the PVC cables the possibility to be used in medium and high fire risk locations. This paper shows the behavior of some acid scavengers at high temperatures performing EN 60754-2 in isothermal conditions at different temperatures between 400 °C and 950 °C. The test apparatus is a tube furnace where the test specimen is burnt, and the released gases are trapped in bubbling devices containing double deionized water. pH and conductivity are measured, the efficiency of the acid scavengers is assessed, and chemical analysis of the ashes is performed. That allows us to understand why some substances succeed and others fail in trapping hydrogen chloride (HCl). The most important conclusion in this paper is that the higher the temperature, the lower the performance of the acid scavenger, showing that HCl concentration in the gas phase depends strongly on the heating conditions of the test specimen Meno dettagli

The average American household commits nearly half (48%) of its total energy consumption to heating and cooling, as reported by the US Department of Energy and the Energy Information Agency (EIA). Thus, developing improved exterior home insulating technologies, such as home siding, is viable for reducing overall American energy demand. PVC is inherently a flame retarded polymer, and PVC-U articles have a low heat release rate, low ignitability and flammability, high ease of extinction, and low… Visualizza altro

The average American household commits nearly half (48%) of its total energy consumption to heating and cooling, as reported by the US Department of Energy and the Energy Information Agency (EIA). Thus, developing improved exterior home insulating technologies, such as home siding, is viable for reducing overall American energy demand. PVC is inherently a flame retarded polymer, and PVC-U articles have a low heat release rate, low ignitability and flammability, high ease of extinction, and low tendency to spread the fire. Therefore, vinyl siding usually has high fire performance, but if the vinyl siding weathers severely, it can expose the flammable foam insulation, increasing the fire risk. That is the typical case when weatherability can affect fire performance and when the first way to lower the fire risk is to increase the weatherability of the article. Therefore, in this paper, the weatherability of vinyl siding has been studied, focusing on chemical changes of the weathering, bringing to the degradation and the loss of the mechanical properties of the article. Meno dettagli

PVC is a versatile polymer capable of creating compounds for cables for various applications: power low, medium, and high voltage, telecommunication, automotive, rail stocks, offshore and inshore, signaling and control, etc. The insulation characteristics and mechanical properties of PVC compounds for cables decrease significantly with the aging at high temperatures due to the evaporation/diffusion of the plasticizer, its thermo-oxidation, the thermo-degradation of PVC matrix, and finally, the… Visualizza altro

PVC is a versatile polymer capable of creating compounds for cables for various applications: power low, medium, and high voltage, telecommunication, automotive, rail stocks, offshore and inshore, signaling and control, etc. The insulation characteristics and mechanical properties of PVC compounds for cables decrease significantly with the aging at high temperatures due to the evaporation/diffusion of the plasticizer, its thermo-oxidation, the thermo-degradation of PVC matrix, and finally, the plasticizer hydrolysis caused by evolving HCl. The presentation enters into the details of these phenomena and, therefore, the interaction between stabilizer and plasticizer in the aging tests of the rating class T3 according to the main requirements of ISO 6722. Meno dettagli

In the European Union, according to the second basic requirement for construction works of Regulation (EU) n. 305/2011, cables permanently installed in residential and public buildings must be classified in terms of reaction to fire, smoke production, flaming droplets, and acidity. The classification is harmonized; nevertheless, every European Union country decides what kind of classification a cable must have to be installed in a specific location, depending on its fire risk, following the… Visualizza altro

In the European Union, according to the second basic requirement for construction works of Regulation (EU) n. 305/2011, cables permanently installed in residential and public buildings must be classified in terms of reaction to fire, smoke production, flaming droplets, and acidity. The classification is harmonized; nevertheless, every European Union country decides what kind of classification a cable must have to be installed in a specific location, depending on its fire risk, following the assumption that the higher the fire risk of the area, the higher the fire performance of the cable. According to Regulation (EU) n. 305/2011, the acidity is indirectly assessed by performing EN 60754-2, giving an additional class based on pH and conductivity measurements. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is one of the gases PVC cables release when they burn. In some applications out of the scope of the Regulation, acid scavengers are commonly used in special-grade PVC compounds to reduce the emission of acidic smoke. In this first part of the paper, the European rules on smoke acidity are presented, a review of the literature on HCl scavenging is performed, and an introduction on HCl scavenging at high temperatures is outlined. The paper shows how different experimental conditions and geometries of the test apparatuses used for assessing the smoke acidity can affect the emission of HCl in the gas phase and what critical issues affect the efficiency of acid scavengers at high temperatures in trapping HCl Meno dettagli

The presentation focuses on the advantages of using bio-based or bio-attributed additives or resins in cable compounds in getting down the Gross Energy Requirement (GER) and the CO2 emitted per KG of product. The influence of a specific bio-based plasticizer produced by soybean oil on the main properties of TM2 and TI2-type compounds has been evaluated.

This short communication wonders if the “approach” adopted in cables in the European Union (EU) with the introduction of additional classification for acidity can be a warning for other countries. In fact, in the EU, according to Regulation (EU) N°305/2011 (Construction Product Regulation, or CPR), cables permanently installed in buildings must be classified in terms of acidity, even though acidity evaluation is seen as an ancillary measure in fire safety by many fire-scientists. Therefore, the… Visualizza altro

This short communication wonders if the “approach” adopted in cables in the European Union (EU) with the introduction of additional classification for acidity can be a warning for other countries. In fact, in the EU, according to Regulation (EU) N°305/2011 (Construction Product Regulation, or CPR), cables permanently installed in buildings must be classified in terms of acidity, even though acidity evaluation is seen as an ancillary measure in fire safety by many fire-scientists. Therefore, the R&D in novel PVC compounds capable to reduce of the emission of hydrogen chloride, matching the best additional classification for acidity, becomes one of the ways to avoid a priori exclusion of PVC cables from B&C. In that context it must be highlighted that different tests assessing smoke acidity gives different values, and the R&D of a group of Italian compounders has shown how EN 60754-2, used in CPR for measuring the acidity, is not the right one from the perspective of the dynamic of the compartment fire. Meno dettagli

Because of its inherent excellent dielectric properties, PVC has proved to be a particularly effective polymer in electrical wires and cables. The insulation characteristics and mechanical properties of PVC compounds for cables decrease significantly with the aging at high temperatures, due to degradation effects, which can be further affected by the presence of moisture and of polar components. Since 2003, after a long period of research and development, in cables Calcium Organic Stabilizers… Visualizza altro

Because of its inherent excellent dielectric properties, PVC has proved to be a particularly effective polymer in electrical wires and cables. The insulation characteristics and mechanical properties of PVC compounds for cables decrease significantly with the aging at high temperatures, due to degradation effects, which can be further affected by the presence of moisture and of polar components. Since 2003, after a long period of research and development, in cables Calcium Organic Stabilizers (COS) have replaced the old lead-based generation. COS are made of several components tailored according to the different applications and requirements depending on specific product standards, and, for particular classes of cables, plasticizer choice is critical. Basic stabilizers may negatively affect insulation and mechanical properties, catalyzing the degradation of the ester-like structure of the plasticizer. Therefore, the knowledge of the mutual interaction between COS and plasticizers is crucial to identify their best combination. This presentation shows the effect of several commercial one-pack stabilizers with C8 and C8-10 trimellitate plasticizers, under the aging conditions of T3 class cables, according to the main requirements of ISO 6722. Meno dettagli

The presentation shows how fire performances can be enhanced in PVC articles, and how PVC articles can improve the fire safety. It focusses on the most recent developments in PVC flame retardants, smoke suppressants and acid scavengers at high temperature for the reduction of smoke acidity.

A new generation of formulations of PVC compounds for producing CPR cables has been developed. Those formulations have shown an extremely low smoke acidity and smoke density during combustion, compared with the old PVC compounds' generation. Smoke acidity has been measured with EN 60754-1 and EN 60754-2. EN 60754-2 is the technical standard to determine the acidity additional class for cables, according to Regulation (EU) N. 305/2011 (CPR), EN 50575 and EN 13501-6, harmonizing the rules for… Visualizza altro

A new generation of formulations of PVC compounds for producing CPR cables has been developed. Those formulations have shown an extremely low smoke acidity and smoke density during combustion, compared with the old PVC compounds' generation. Smoke acidity has been measured with EN 60754-1 and EN 60754-2. EN 60754-2 is the technical standard to determine the acidity additional class for cables, according to Regulation (EU) N. 305/2011 (CPR), EN 50575 and EN 13501-6, harmonizing the rules for construction products in the European Union. Furthermore, in the presentation EN 60754-1 and EN 60754-2 have been compared. EN 60754-2 requires extremely high temperatures without a heating regime. In these conditions the hydrochloric acid (HCl) evolves fast, and acid scavengers cannot trap it efficiently. On the contrary, the heating regime and the lower temperature of EN 60754-1 represent better the evolution of temperatures in a real fire scenario Meno dettagli

PVC represents an important part of the cable market in Europe. It is the most widely used polymer in power and telecommunication cables, thanks to its advantages in terms of better cost / performance, sustainability and recyclability, which translates into technical and functional benefits of safety for end-users and consumers. The presentation describes the case study of Cable Group Italy and its attempts to create new cables better in terms of smoke emission and smoke acidity.

The use of Halogen Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) or PVC cables with low smoke acidity is compulsory in sensitive locations where “zero value” or low values of acidic smokes are required by national regulations or companies’ specifications. The presentation shows the performances of a new generation of PVC compounds in term of smoke acidity. EN 60754-1 and EN 60754-2 standards have been performed, focusing on the analysis of substances produced in gas phase, dissolved in the water and trapped in… Visualizza altro

The use of Halogen Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) or PVC cables with low smoke acidity is compulsory in sensitive locations where “zero value” or low values of acidic smokes are required by national regulations or companies’ specifications. The presentation shows the performances of a new generation of PVC compounds in term of smoke acidity. EN 60754-1 and EN 60754-2 standards have been performed, focusing on the analysis of substances produced in gas phase, dissolved in the water and trapped in solid ashes Meno dettagli

In the presentation two technical standards, EN 60754-1 and EN 60754-2, have been compared. EN 60754-2 is the technical standard to be used for the determination of acidity additional class for cables, according to Regulation (EU) N. 305/2011 (CPR) [1], EN 50575 and EN 13501-6, harmonizing the rules for constructions products in the European Union. Considering the mechanism through which acid scavengers trap hydrochloric acid (HCl) in condensed phase at high temperature and evaluating the… Visualizza altro

In the presentation two technical standards, EN 60754-1 and EN 60754-2, have been compared. EN 60754-2 is the technical standard to be used for the determination of acidity additional class for cables, according to Regulation (EU) N. 305/2011 (CPR) [1], EN 50575 and EN 13501-6, harmonizing the rules for constructions products in the European Union. Considering the mechanism through which acid scavengers trap hydrochloric acid (HCl) in condensed phase at high temperature and evaluating the experimental data, we have found out a strong evidence that different heating conditions and temperatures can affect the performances of acid scavengers used for reducing smoke acidity. IEC 60754-3, based on ion chromatography, has been used to explore the impact on pH and conductivity of all acidic species affecting smoke acidity. The influence of acid scavengers on flame retardance and smoke suppressant properties has been evaluated. A new generation of TM1 compounds for jackets with extremely low smoke acidity is presented. Meno dettagli

A new generation of PVC compounds for cables with very low values of smoke acidity have been developed, with the aim to reduce the emission of hydrochloric acid due to the combustion of cables in a fire. The use of several acid scavengers, capable to react quickly with HCl, trapping it in the ashes, and blocking the release of HCl in gas phase, have been evaluated. Two technical standards have been performed for making the measurements of the smoke acidity: EN 60754/1 and EN 60754/2.The… Visualizza altro

A new generation of PVC compounds for cables with very low values of smoke acidity have been developed, with the aim to reduce the emission of hydrochloric acid due to the combustion of cables in a fire. The use of several acid scavengers, capable to react quickly with HCl, trapping it in the ashes, and blocking the release of HCl in gas phase, have been evaluated. Two technical standards have been performed for making the measurements of the smoke acidity: EN 60754/1 and EN 60754/2.The results obtained with the above-mentioned standards have been compared, in order to understand if the presence of a temperature regime or a different setting of temperature can affect the measurements. Meno dettagli

Functional nano-additives for the modifcation of the properties of p-PVC for cable applications

New PVC compounds for cables have been developed, with a strong reduction of smoke acidity during the burning in a fire. Several acid scavengers, capable to trap hydrogen chloride in stable reaction products, have been evaluated according to the technical standards EN 60754/1 and EN 60754/2. The results have been compared, in order to understand if the presence of a temperature regime or a different setting of temperatures can affect the measurements.

A new class of calix[4]arene crown ethers with one or two bipyridines appended to the polyether ring (lariat calixcrowns) have been designed and synthesized; the luminescence properties of their Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes have been studied in acetonitrile. In this solvent, long lifetimes for the metal emitting states and high metal-luminescence intensities obtained upon ligand excitation have been observed in both Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes. The association constants in methanol have been

A series of novel podand molecules bearing three or four pendant bipyridine or bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide subunits substituted at the 5,5′-positions has been synthesized and these ligands have been shown to form stable lanthanide complexes in solution: a very high luminescence quantum yield, Φ = 0.35, has been obtained for [Eu(3)]3+. This yield is the highest ever found for an isolated europium complex.

Several new calix[4]arene-crowns have been synthesized and their complexation of the Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions has been studied in order to obtain compounds exhibiting metal luminescence. Whereas ligands 3 and 5 gave no indication of complex formation with lanthanide ions, ligands 2 4 and 6 were able to sensitize the Eu3+ and Tb3+ luminescence. A high metal luminescence quantum yield was obtained for Tb2. The selectivity of these ligands towards alkali metal ions has also been assessed.