Filaments with flame retardant properties are increasingly in demand on the market, particularly in the aerospace and automotive industries, as well as by manufacturers of components for electronic products or studios that manufacture 3D lamps, who see additive manufacturing as a solution for their business models, which require that the spread of fire be prevented, and which is also frequently required by regulatory institutions.
That is why Smart Materials 3D has created a new material from SMARTFIL® PETG, one of our most popular and widely used filaments due to its high resistance, relative flexibility, and temperature resistance, and now with anti-flame properties.
INNOVATEFIL® PETG FP is a Copolyester Glycol (PETG) based compound that has been modified with flame retardant additives based on halogens and red phosphorus. It slows the spread of fire by being more resistant to igniting and remaining on fire. It is intended to reduce the possibility of a fire starting due to contact with a small heat source, such as a small flame or an electrical fault.
In general, any plastic component that comes into contact with electrical current needs some form of fire resistance or retardation. Wire nuts, junction boxes, and internal cable supports are some of the components that can catch fire if there is an electrical problem. Furthermore, flame retardant components are found in industrial machines, DIY tools, and household equipment such as microwaves, toasters, and dishwashers. In the automotive and aerospace industries, the interior of vehicles such as the interior of an airplane or the cockpit of a race car must also prevent the spread of fire to protect human occupants.
Additionally, the UL 94 standard, which is likely the most popular flame-retardant standard, is present in INNOVATEFIL® PETG FP. This standard puts a material through a series of tests to determine how flame resistant it is. The certification technique involves repeatedly igniting a component with an external flame; to receive the 94 V-0 rating, the component must possess the following qualities:
- After the first and second burns, it should burn for less than 10 seconds. This indicates how quickly the material's parts would stop burning.
- The glow after the second flame needed to last less than 30 seconds. This is a good indicator of how quickly the part cools after being ignited. The longer a component remains hot enough to glow, the more likely it will re-ignite another component nearby.
- After lighting it on fire ten times, nothing that could permitted to leak. It is possible for a component to spark more fires in its immediate surrounds if it is dripping substance that can ignite other materials.
- The full sample could not be burned. This provides a useful indicator of how challenging the material is for a flame to move through.
Working with INNOVATEFIL® PETG FP is an excellent filament option for printing flame retardant objects that must be resistant, soft, and have little contraction, but it is important to remember that PETG is a hygroscopic material, so keep our resealable bags closed and the silicate bags that come in our packaging closed.
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