Flexalloy®: Flexible Strength for the 4th Utility

When cables are going to be exposed to harsh elements, you need a tough material that will protect them, but will also remain flexible and not crack due to cold or melt due to hot weather. Flexalloy jacketing compounds stand-up to extreme weather in industrial environments.

Halguard vinyl compounds have excellent fire retardant properties, while delivering uncompromising performance.

For nearly 65 years, our customers have turned to us for high-grade wire and cable compounds that perform in demanding applications. Our lab creates economical formulations, too.

At Teknor Apex, vinyl research and development teams focus on formulating new wire, cable and electrical compounds that meet today's jacketing, plenum and riser application challenges. Power over Ethernet, fiber optics, data center and alternative energy applications are just a few of the cutting-edge markets R&D engineers continue to formulate compounds for. Many compounds in the wire, cable and electrical compound portfolio are already UL recognized, thanks to on-site testing facilities. Rounding out their expertise in the vinyl custom compounding industry is their global regulatory knowledge. All of these factors, along with over 6 decades in the industry, make Teknor Apex an industry leader and the best partner for all your custom compound needs.

The goal of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) is to enable European Union countries to regulate building materials for fire resistance and characterize fire byproducts with a single EU-wide set of standards and test methods. Specific to cables in fixed installations, the Construction Products Regulation, EN 50575, was implemented July 1, 2017. All permanently installed power, telecommunications, data and control cables manufactured for or imported into the EU are subject to the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). This regulation applies to cable installed in buildings as well as civil engineering works such as bridges and tunnels.

Flexalloy PVC elastomers are flexible compounds that have a broad operating temperature range and enhanced performance in harsh environments. In this interview, we get some insights into these unique compounds from our in-house technical expert, Chuck Hoover, who has been very involved in the development of Flexalloy compounds at Teknor Apex.

Teknor Apex has added newly developed FireGUARD® PVC compounds for a variety of cable types from copper data cable jackets to fiber optic cables, to specialty and security cables to their product portfolio.

While there is increasing demand for low-smoke, halogen-free, flame-retardant (LS HFFR) compounds in many cable applications, fiber optics present special requirements for these types of materials. Tight buffer compounds must be tough yet elastic to protect the optical fiber from mechanical damage and the signal losses caused by micro-bends. Jacket compounds must exhibit a low degree of post-extrusion shrinkage, which can impose stress on the sensitive fibers during post-extrusion temperature cycling and over time during end use.

Industrial automation is constantly evolving, and innovative material compounds for cables play a key role in this evolution. These compounds require greater operating properties than before including improved processability, improved durability, flammability up to FT4, low temperature properties (cold impact to -40 °C and cold bend to -60 °C.)

Industry Trends Webinar featuring Teknor Apex to explore the current trends and challenges shaping this dynamic market and unlock the transformative power of material innovation.