In the construction of modern communication infrastructure, the safety, stability, and durability of cable materials are crucial. Especially in scenarios such as data centers, communication lines, and industrial automation that have extremely high requirements for power and signal transmission, Flame-Retardant Polyethylene (FR-PE) has become a widely used cable sheath and insulation material due to its excellent flame retardant properties, mechanical strength, and environmental adaptability.
Why Do These Industries Prefer Flame-Retardant Polyethylene?
A large number of network, power, and optical fiber cables are usually laid inside data centers. The dense wiring structure means that once a fire occurs indoors, the flame can easily spread quickly along the cables and produce a large amount of toxic smoke. Therefore, data centers have extremely strict requirements for the flame retardancy of cable materials.
Low-smoke halogen-free flame-retardant polyethylene can effectively delay the spread of flames and release less smoke when burning due to its good oxygen index (LOI). This makes FR-PE materials the preferred material for cable sheaths in areas such as data center server rooms, power distribution rooms, and cable trays.
Low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) flame retardant polyethylene materials do not release halogen gas when burned, thereby reducing damage to servers, communication equipment and personnel health, and complying with international safety standards (such as IEC60332-3, UL94 V-0, etc.).
The cables in communication centers must not only be fire-resistant and flame-retardant, but also have good electrical insulation to reduce signal loss and electromagnetic interference. Flame-Retardant polyethylene has a low dielectric constant and dielectric loss, so it is often used in the outer sheath of optical cables and the insulation layer of coaxial cables, which can effectively reduce signal attenuation and ensure communication stability.
The cables of communication lines often need to be laid overhead or underground, and are exposed to complex environments such as ultraviolet rays, humidity, high temperature, and low temperature for a long time. Flame-retardant polyethylene has excellent weather resistance. Compared with ordinary polyethylene materials, it can still maintain good mechanical strength and electrical properties after long-term use, and is not prone to embrittlement, cracking, aging and other problems.
In addition, flame-retardant polyethylene materials with added antioxidants and anti-ultraviolet stabilizers perform better in harsh environments such as high humidity, salt spray, and chemical corrosion. Therefore, they are widely used in outdoor optical cables, power communication cables and other fields.
In industrial automation production lines, cables need to withstand frequent bending, dragging, vibration and other mechanical stresses, while ordinary cable materials are prone to damage and breakage during long-term use. Flame-retardant polyethylene has high tensile strength, wear resistance and tear resistance, which can effectively extend the service life of cables and reduce maintenance costs.
In high-dynamic application scenarios such as robots, CNC machine tools, and assembly line control systems, the use of flexible flame-retardant polyethylene cable materials can greatly improve the durability of cables and reduce equipment downtime caused by cable damage.
In industrial production processes, cables are often exposed to chemicals such as oil, acid, alkali, and solvents. Flame-retardant polyethylene materials have good chemical stability and can effectively resist corrosion from a variety of industrial chemicals. They are suitable for a variety of automation industries such as petrochemicals, metallurgy, food processing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Data centers, communication lines and industrial automation have different requirements for cable materials, but they all rely heavily on flame-retardant polyethylene materials. The main reasons include:
High flame retardant performance: reduce the risk of fire transmission and meet international safety standards
Low smoke and halogen-free characteristics: reduce the release of toxic gases and improve the safety of personnel and equipment
Excellent electrical insulation: ensure stable communication signals and reduce transmission losses
Strong weather resistance: suitable for harsh outdoor environments and extend the service life of cables
Wear-resistant, pressure-resistant, and chemical-resistant: meet the high-strength requirements of industrial automation for cables
Related Reading:
What is The Difference Between Flame-Retardant Polyethylene and Low Smoke and Halogen-Free Materials?
Is it Better to Choose Flame-Retardant Polyethylene or PVC for Data Center Cables?
What are The Most Commonly Used Insulation Materials for Communication Cables?
How to Choose Suitable Flame-Retardant Materials for Industrial Automation Cables?
Previous
