Comparison between Low-Smoke Halogen-Free Cable and Mineral Insulated Cable:
1. Classification by Cable Materials
Low-Smoke Halogen-Free Cable: Copper core + insulation made from a halogen-free (F, Cl, Br, I, At) rubber compound that is free of lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and other environmentally friendly substances.
Mineral Insulated Cable: Copper core + magnesium oxide.
2. Cable Performance Characteristics
Higher tensile strength than standard PVC cable, excellent fire resistance (-30°C to 105°C), excellent flexibility (hardness of 80-90), no plasticizer required, and produces no toxic black smoke (a small amount of white smoke) when burned. The flame retardant material is made from three metal oxides containing crystalline water: these lose their crystalline water at 200°C, 300°C, and temperatures above 300°C, respectively.
Mineral Insulated Cable: Does not burn, does not support combustion, and produces no harmful gases. It can maintain normal power for three hours at a flame temperature of 1000°C. It has strong electrical stability, a long lifespan, and a high current carrying capacity.
3. Cable Price Comparison
Low-smoke halogen-free cables are approximately 10%-20% more expensive than ordinary cables.
Mineral insulated cables are approximately 1-5 times more expensive than ordinary cables.
This is only the initial purchase cost; the subsequent maintenance and replacement costs of low-smoke halogen-free cables are not included. The subsequent maintenance costs of mineral insulated cables are almost negligible.
