PVC substitute

[drodrig]

Hi there,

I am looking for a PVC substitute.

We frequently use rigid PVC for manufacturing small and testing parts.

It is cheap and easy to manufacture.

The problem we are currently facing is we are not allowed to use it due to fire regulations; when burning PVC gives off carbon monoxide which is toxic.

For what I found around, one could use PP or PE (Polypropylene and polyethylene) with fire retardants.

Actually it seems most of plastics are not allowed or recommended: ABS, POM, PVC, PVDC, PVDF and many others one should get them with the fire retardants.

Does anyone have experience about this?

thanks
regards,

 

[ornerynorsk]

Many of the machineable urethanes are fire retardant, although they may not have quite the strength of PVC. Aluminum perhaps?

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[Demon3]

PVC is one of the best plastics in a fire situation because it's self-extinguishing. It can potentially give off toxic gasses of which carbon monoxide is not at all the main concern.

PE and PP burn like a candle and very cleanly. If you need it to be FR then there are many such formulations on the market. In PE, ATH is most commonly used. In PP, MDH is used as an FR agent.

Dr. Chris DeArmitt
President

Expert plastic materials help

http://www.phantomplastics.com

 

[drodrig]

Polyurethane seems a good option but it is only allowed in tubes; apparently they are flammable (do not conform to UL94V requirements) and emit dense smoke.
Aluminium would be too conductor and not so easy to machine

PVC is completely forbidden since it is not halogen free

How do these fire retardants work? I mean, I guess they should be added in the melting process. Are there standard materials ready to buy?

thanks

​

 

[MikeHalloran]

See "Macor" machinable ceramic from Corning, and similar, softer materials from Cotronics.

Also take a look at Bakelite.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA