Application guide for selecting halogen-free flame retardant additives and masterbatch for LSZH cable compounds, wire insulation and cable jackets. Compare ATH, MDH, phosphorus-nitrogen systems, synergists, additive packages and LSZH masterbatch for low smoke, zero halogen and cable extrusion requirements.
Fig. LSZH01 — low smoke zero halogen cable compound proofUse a real image of LSZH cable pellets, cable jacket samples, smoke-density test notes, oxygen index bars and extrusion records. The image should prove this page is specific to wire and cable compounds.
LSZH cable compounds need more than high flame retardant loading. Buyers must balance low smoke, zero halogen, flame rating, mechanical strength, elongation, filler loading, processing torque, surface finish and cable extrusion stability. If you are working across several cable families rather than LSZH alone, our flame retardant for wire and cable overview maps the standards and systems by cable type.
Use powder or blended halogen-free flame retardant additives when you control LSZH compound recipes, filler loading, coupling system, extrusion and mechanical balance internally.
Use LSZH flame retardant masterbatch when cleaner dosing, pre-dispersion and simpler line trials are more important than direct powder feeding.
Use halogen-free LSZH systems when building wire, transit, telecom or export cable buyers require low smoke, zero halogen and restricted substance support.
Fig. LSZH02 — LSZH pellets, cable jacket and smoke-density samplesShows cable-specific flame and smoke validation.
Fig. LSZH03 — cable extrusion line, strand samples and trial recordsConnects LSZH flame retardant selection to real cable processing conditions.Use this matrix to shortlist halogen-free flame retardants for LSZH cable compounds before sample testing. Final selection depends on base polymer, filler loading, target flame and smoke standard, extrusion process, surface quality and mechanical property retention.
| LSZH Requirement | Recommended Direction | Halogen-Free | Halogenated | Typical Targets | Processing Notes | Best Next Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EVA / PE LSZH compound | ATH, MDH, phosphorus-nitrogen synergist or compounded halogen-free package | Core direction | Not preferred | Low smoke · zero halogen · flame rating | Check filler loading, elongation, tensile strength and extrusion torque | Halogen-free |
| Wire insulation | Low-smoke additive package adjusted to flexibility and surface quality | Required | Not preferred | Flame spread · smoke density · acid gas | Confirm insulation thickness, line speed, flexibility and surface finish | Additives |
| Cable jacket compound | ATH / MDH based LSZH package with coupling and processing support | Required | Not preferred | Smoke density · LOI · jacket durability | Balance abrasion, elongation, weathering, filler dispersion and surface | Masterbatch |
| POE / TPE cable compound | Flexible halogen-free system adjusted to elastomer compatibility | Core direction | Not preferred | Flexibility · low smoke · flame rating | Check elongation, rebound, oil resistance and extrusion stability | Halogen-free |
| LSZH masterbatch trial | Polyolefin carrier masterbatch with pre-dispersed halogen-free flame retardants | Core direction | Not preferred | Clean dosing · fast trial · dispersion | Confirm carrier resin, let-down ratio, filler level and cable line conditions | Masterbatch |
| Low-smoke PVC comparison | Clarify whether buyer needs low-smoke PVC or true LSZH compound | Project-specific | Available in PVC | Smoke · halogen acid gas · compliance | PVC contains chlorine; true LSZH usually requires non-halogenated polymer base | PVC guide |
| High filler LSZH | Surface-treated mineral flame retardants and processing aids | Core direction | Not preferred | High LOI · low smoke · mechanical retention | Confirm filler dispersion, coupling, torque, die pressure and elongation | Additives |
For LSZH cable compounds, the form decision depends on whether the buyer controls compounding or needs a production-friendly pellet concentrate. Cable compounders often prefer powder additives, while cable producers may prefer LSZH flame retardant masterbatch for cleaner trials and simpler dosing.
You need direct formulation control, high active loading adjustment, filler balance or integration into an existing LSZH cable compound recipe.
You need cleaner dosing, easier handling, better pre-dispersion and direct let-down on LSZH cable extrusion or trial lines.
LSZH cable compound projects require careful wording and testing. Low-smoke PVC, halogen-free additive chemistry and true LSZH cable compounds are not the same. The correct direction should be validated against cable standards, smoke density, halogen acid gas, extrusion stability and mechanical requirements.
Use non-halogenated polymer systems and halogen-free flame retardants when the cable specification requires low smoke zero halogen performance.
Common mineral flame retardant directions for LSZH compounds, but filler loading, dispersion, coupling and mechanical retention must be validated.
Low-smoke PVC may reduce smoke, but PVC resin still contains chlorine. It should not be confused with true LSZH cable compound.
Most LSZH projects need a balance of flame rating, smoke, filler loading, elongation, tensile strength, surface finish, line speed and total cost.
A useful LSZH recommendation requires more than the words low smoke. Base polymer, cable type, target standard, filler loading, extrusion process, smoke requirement, mechanical limits and additive form all affect the recommended system and trial loading.
Fig. LSZH04 — smoke-density chamber, halogen acid gas test or cable burn samplesSupports technical credibility for LSZH flame and smoke validation.Fig. LSZH05 — LSZH pellets, cable jacket and sample bagsShows real wire and cable compound sampling scenarios.Most LSZH enquiries arrive naming a cable type rather than a chemistry. Below is how the usual requests map onto systems — sheathing versus data cable, and the two properties buyers ask about most after flame and smoke: thermal stability and corrosion behaviour.
| Cable Type / Requirement | What Drives the Formulation | Usual System |
|---|---|---|
| LSZH cable sheathing compound | Abrasion, elongation and surface finish at high filler loading | Surface-treated MDH or ATH at 55–65% with coupling agent |
| LSZH compound for data cables | Thin wall, tight dimensional control, low smoke in enclosed runs | Fine-particle grades; particle size controls surface and wall consistency |
| Thermal stability in processing | Extrusion temperature versus filler decomposition onset | MDH decomposes near 330 °C, ATH near 200 °C — this decides which one your line can run |
| Corrosion resistance | Acid gas attacking switchgear and electronics the fire never reaches | Halogen-free by definition: no HCl to release. IEC 60754 is the clause |
| LSZH thermoplastic compound / granules | Buyers asking for thermoplastic LSZH usually want finished granules, not additives | Ready-to-extrude compound supplied as granules; we also sell the additive layer separately |
| UV and weathering resistance | Outdoor and solar cable; mineral-filled compounds chalk without stabilisation | UV stabiliser package on top of the mineral system — specify expected outdoor life, not just "UV resistant" |
| Chemical and oil resistance | Industrial installations, machine tool and mining cable | Base polymer decides this more than the flame retardant. Polyolefin LSZH resists acids and alkalis well, oils less so |
| Water resistance / wet ageing | Buried, submerged or high-humidity routes | ATH and MDH are hydrophilic at high loading — surface treatment and a water-blocking design matter more than the FR choice |
| Density and weight | Weight-sensitive installs; cost per metre calculations | Mineral-filled LSZH runs heavier than PVC — at 55–65% filler expect a noticeably higher specific gravity. Quote cost per metre, not per kilo |
| Flexibility | Drag chains, robotics, portable and coiled cable | High mineral loading stiffens the compound. Flexible grades trade some filler for elastomer content, which changes the flame package |
| Power and control cable | Flame propagation on bunched cable in a vertical tray | Mineral base plus char-promoting synergist for IEC 60332-3 categories |
What we supply into this, plainly: we are the flame retardant layer, not a cable maker. That means mineral systems with controlled particle size and surface treatment, synergists, masterbatch, and ready-to-extrude compound — produced on our partner factory's SHJ-75 twin-screw line with batch traceability from the ISO 9001 certified factories we source from, UL94 and LOI pre-screening at our partner factory's burn lab, and TDS, SDS, COA plus third-party reports through an accredited laboratory. Trial quantities and production tonnage are different conversations; ask for both.
Buyers increasingly ask about the production process and the paperwork before they ask about price — usually because a previous supplier was inconsistent between lots. Here is how the compound is made and what should arrive with it.
| Stage | What Decides Quality |
|---|---|
| Mineral preparation | Particle size distribution and surface treatment are fixed here. Once the filler is in the compound, dispersion problems cannot be corrected downstream. |
| Twin-screw compounding | Screw configuration and residence time at 55–65% loading. Too little shear leaves agglomerates; too much degrades the polymer and costs elongation. |
| Pelletising and drying | Mineral hydroxides pick up moisture. Insufficient drying shows up as porosity in the extruded jacket, not as a compounding fault. |
| Batch verification | Ash content confirms loading; LOI and UL94 confirm the flame package. Both should be on the COA for the lot you receive, not a generic datasheet. |
Technical data and certification, plainly. Every shipment should carry a TDS for the grade, an SDS, and a COA specific to your lot — that last one is the document that matters, because it ties the numbers to the material you actually received. Third-party test reports can be arranged through an accredited laboratory where your customer needs them for a file. What no additive or compound supplier can give you is a cable certification: IEC 60332, 61034 and 60754 are cable tests, run on finished cable, and the certificate belongs to the cable maker. We supply the compound layer and the data behind it — the cable-level approval stays with you.
On consistency between lots, which is the real question behind most process enquiries: ask any supplier for the batch-to-batch tolerance on filler loading, in numbers. If they cannot answer, nobody is measuring it — and drifting loading is why a jacket passes IEC 60332 in one production run and fails in the next.
Direct answers help engineers and procurement teams compare LSZH additives, LSZH masterbatch, low-smoke PVC, halogen-free systems and RFQ requirements before sample testing.
LSZH cable compounds commonly use halogen-free flame retardants such as ATH, MDH, phosphorus-nitrogen systems, synergists or compounded additive packages depending on base polymer, flame rating, smoke target, mechanical properties and extrusion conditions.
Cable compounders often choose powder additives for formulation control, while cable producers and converters may choose LSZH flame retardant masterbatch for cleaner dosing, pre-dispersion and easier production trials.
Low-smoke PVC is still based on PVC resin, while LSZH means low smoke zero halogen and normally uses non-halogenated polymer systems. Buyers should clarify whether they need low-smoke PVC, halogen-free additive chemistry or true LSZH cable compound.
Both. Powder additives and synergists for cable compounders running their own twin-screw lines, masterbatch where dosing on the extrusion line suits you better, and ready-to-extrude LSZH compound where you would rather run a single material stream. Which is cheaper per finished metre depends on your equipment and annual tonnage.
It is decided by your extrusion temperature, not by which is better. ATH begins releasing water near 200 °C and MDH near 330 °C, so polyolefin systems running hot need MDH to avoid premature decomposition and porosity. Where the line runs cooler, ATH is the lower-cost route.
Not entirely, and anyone promising otherwise is overselling. At 55–65% mineral loading some elongation and tensile loss is physics. Surface-treated fine-particle grades, coupling agents and correct dispersion recover a large share of it, and compound-form supply removes dispersion variability from your line.
Share base polymer, cable type, extrusion process, target flame and smoke standard, halogen-free requirement, filler loading, mechanical property needs, color, additive or masterbatch preference and expected trial volume.
If your specification names smoke density or halogen acid gas, the choice is already made and the real question is how much mechanical property you can trade at 55–65% filler. That is decided by particle size, surface treatment and dispersion rather than by which mineral you buy. Send your cable type, target standard and elongation minimum, and we will propose a system, pre-screen it at our partner factory’s burn lab, and tell you honestly what it will cost you in processing.
Send your base polymer, cable type, extrusion process, target flame and smoke standard, filler loading and compliance requirements. We will recommend whether to start with LSZH additives, LSZH flame retardant masterbatch or a blended halogen-free system.