Silicone rubber used for fire safety and fire retardant cables

Fire safety cables are in many applications mandatory since they need to ensure in the case of fire the integrity of the cable especially in alarm systems, emergency lightning, ventilation, automatic doors on escape routes, etc.. Modern ceramifying silicone formulations are used to construct fire safety cables economically. When exposed to fire they turn into a hard ceramic which remains electrically insulating up to a temperature of 950°C. The silicone burns into non toxic combustion products like carbon dioxide, water vapor and silica. The formed ceramic enables the integrity of the cable under the given conditions as stated in various international standards. New formulations provide excellent processability with high mechanical strength of the rubber. The final cable can be stripped off easily. The silicone can be designed that the forming ceramic layer various in hardness according to its needs. Flame retardant silicones and silicones for safety cables not only provide more safety to human in case of severe fire in a building but also help to slow down the spread of the fire. Furthermore they produce only small amounts of smoke and toxic fumes. All these products are halogen free.