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FIRE RETARDANT CERTIFIED MATERIALS

During the unfortunate event of your product catching fire, having materials that will self-extinguish can help tremendously when that worst-case scenario occurs. The rubber and plastic components are typically the first to burn up and melt causing the flame/fire to spread to the rest of your product. If some or all parts can be converted to flame retardant materials, then the risk of catastrophic burning inside a product can be drastically reduced.
 

FIRE RETARDANT CERTIFIED SANTOPRENE TPV

One of the materials that Sherwood Industries Inc. extrudes is made with Santoprene™ Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV) from Celanese. Santoprene TPV is a blend of polypropylene and EPDM rubber meaning it behaves like a rubber but processes like a thermoplastic. This material is a high performance elastomer that provides consistent performance and chemical resistance. Our fire retardant certified Santoprene TPV sheet and profile products can be used in a wide range of applications dealing with extreme heat.
 

Many Santoprene TPV grades are designed to meet various certifications and testing. Some of these include UL 94 burn test and UL Subjects 6703, 6703A, 3730, 1703, QMTT2, QMFZ2, and QMFZ8 for both junction boxes and connectors in photovoltaic (PV) systems. Our fire retardant materials are RoHS compliant and provide UL 94 flammability classifications of V-1 down to a thickness of 1.5mm and 5VA down to a thickness of 1.8mm. Flame retardant Santoprene TPV has an elevated Relative Thermal Index (RTI) of 90 ⁰C (194 ⁰F) and meet the requirements for suitability for outdoor use with an (f1) rating. Some uses include outdoor, electrical, and automotive applications.

 

UL 94 FLAME CLASSIFICATIONS

The UL 94 burn test ratings specifically cover plastics. These classifications listed in the chart below are used to distinguish a materials’ burning characteristics after test specimens have been exposed to specific tests under controlled laboratory conditions. There are six UL 94 ratings that cover the best to the worst results. Materials classified as 5VA or 5VB are subjected to a flame ignition source approximately 5 times more severe than the flame in tests V-0, V-1, V-2, and HB tests. 5VA is the highest and most flame retardant UL 94 rating.
 

Disclaimer: These specifications listed are for reference only. View the most up to date UL classifications on their website.

UL 94 5V - 500 W, 125 mm Vertical

Test Criteria 5 VA 5 VB

Burning and afterglow times of specimens after fifth flame application(s)

≤ 60

≤ 60

Dripping of buring specimens

no

no

Hole formation

no

yes

UL 94 V - 50 W, 20 mm Vertical

Test Criteria V-0 V-1 V-2

Burning time of each individual test specimen(s) (after first and second flame applications)

≤ 10

≤ 30

≤ 30

Total burning time(s) (10 flame applications)

≤ 50

≤ 250

≤ 250

Burning and afterglow times after second flame application(s)

≤ 30

≤ 60

≤ 60

Dripping of burning specimens (ignition of cotton batting)

no

no

yes

Combustion up to holding clamp (specimens completely burned)

no

no

no

UL 94 HB - Horizontal Burning

Test Criteria Burning rate in V Flammability rating

Test specimen thickness 3 - 13 mm

≤ 40 mm/min

HB

Test specimen thickness < 3 mm

≤ 75 mm/min

HB

Flame is extinguished before first mark

= 0 mm/min

HB

SHERWOOD’S CAPABILITIES

We can extrude sheet from 0.020” to 0.250” (0.6 mm to 6.3mm) thick. We offer widths between 6” to 36”. Our extruded sheet can be wound onto 3″ or 6″ PVC cores. Our machinery allows for flexibility on the amount of linear feet wound on each roll or a certain weight limit per roll. With four patterns and color matching capabilities, we can provide you with a customized product for your application. We can accommodate orders ranging from 500 pounds to truckloads, shipped worldwide.

We also offer profile extrusion to provide shapes and configurations to match your products’ exact requirements for your unique application. We make custom dies to extrude a shape that fits your requirements and will assure a consistent and reliable part over years of extrusion. Profile parts can be cut to length or wound into a roll.

Image of four patterns Sherwood provides. Block, haircell, matte and grain patterns.

FIRE RETARDANT CERTIFIED SPEC SHEETS

Every grade of Santoprene™ TPV has a spec sheet detailing its specifications and properties. For your convenience, we have supplied links to many of the fire retardant certified spec sheets. Unsure if Santoprene TPV is right for your project? You can learn more about Santoprene TPV and our services regarding sheet extrusion and profile extrusion.

Disclaimer: These specifications listed are for reference only. View the most up to date Celanese specs on the Celanese database.

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