Complies with Railway Standard
Flame Retardant Thermoplastic Elastomers for Railway Applications
Our supplier KRAIBURG TPE is expanding its flame retardant product portfolio with innovative materials that meet DIN EN 45545-2 for railway applications, in addition to UL 94 V0.
KRAIBURG TPE possesses extensive experience in developing TPEs with halogen-free flame retardant properties. A second product series for 2K applications with polypropylene, featuring a V0 flame retardancy rating at 1.5 mm wall thickness according to UL Standard 94, was recently introduced.
This series is currently the only TPE material on the market to comply with DIN EN 45545-2 for railway applications. The specially developed materials meet requirement sets R22 and R23 for hazard levels HL1-3 at wall thicknesses up to 3 mm.
This particularly enables the realization of sealing applications for both interior and exterior components of rail vehicles, irrespective of their design and operating class.
UL94 V0-listed materials are self-extinguishing in the event of fire and do not form burning droplets. The new TPE materials meet this requirement without the use of halogen-containing flame retardants, thus aligning with the limits for bromine, chlorine, and total halogens stipulated in IEC 61249-2-21.
For individuals affected, this translates to enhanced safety in a fire scenario due to reduced disorienting smoke development and lower smoke gas toxicity. Chlorine- and bromine-free flame retardants also minimize the potential risk of secondary damage from corrosive smoke gases, which typically arise from the combustion of halogen-containing substances. Furthermore, their corrosivity can negatively impact the property retention and economic recyclability of end-of-life materials, such as during the recycling of decommissioned rail vehicles.
Initial railway applications have already been successfully implemented: TPE compounds from the FR2 series are utilized as sealing materials in cable glands and conduits. The materials within this flame retardant series are produced at all three KRAIBURG TPE manufacturing sites in Germany, Malaysia, and the USA.
