INFIT advanced technology
To insure integrity of flexible cable insulation during a fire, the cable industry mainly used up to now 2 major technologies: fire resistant Mica taping and ceramic forming silicone rubbers.

Each of these technologies presents numbers of advantages. The classical insulation taping based on Mica, and largely used since the 80?s, can for example be easily implemented at industrial scale by giving a hard and good electrical insulation when overcoated with a cross-linked polyethylene. And, the Silicone rubber insulation with its direct extrusion on the conductors gives a good compromise between fire performance and easiness of installation. Nevertheless, considering the new customer requirements regarding resistance, strippability, easiness of connection and of course fire performance, Nexans has developed a technology dedicated to fire-resistant cables insulation.

INFIT is a unique innovative technology which combines in a polymeric material the advantages of the tough mica tapes layer and the extruded silicone insulation layer. This enables the Nexans cables to combine the hard and easy to handle surface of traditional mica tape/XLPE cables with the strippability and easy installation of flexible silicone rubber insulated cables.

INFIT technology allows an enhanced integrity of cable insulation during a fire. In the event of a fire, INFIT transforms the insulation from a flexible, plastic covering to a tough insulating ceramic layer to assure circuit-integrity (i.e. no breaks or short circuits).

INFIT, a fruitful result of an ambitious Research & Development project.
This technology has been developed in the Nexans International Research Center based in Lyon, France, in close partnership with the Australian Nexans R&D Center, during the last ten years. The development of this technology is based on basic studies especially highlighting the synergy between the ceramic science and the latest polymer science.
In case of accidental fire, the temperature ramp up cannot be managed when classically in ceramic science, a well defined curing process must be followed to form a high performance ceramic. The first challenge to manage was to develop a ceramic forming system able to react and form an electrical insulation in a very short time in a large range of temperature increase, and exhibiting a high electrical insulation. The second parallel challenge was to reach this performance from a formulated polymeric extrudable material (and not from a powder), fulfilling with all the very demanding standards of the cable industry.

INFIT is implemented in respect of many worldwide cable standards and according to the most rigorous product quality and safety criteria. Nexans cables insulated with INFIT can resist to fires reaching temperatures about 1,000°C, under voltage up to 1kV, exhibiting greater char cohesion and electrical insulation during fire.
INFIT is a proprietary Nexans technology protected by a dedicated patent portfolio.

INFIT, a transversal technology through the cables markets
INFIT will be gradually deployed in the coming months thought the whole fire resistant product ranges of Nexans for building as well as industrial application like for example shipboard constructions.

'INFIT advanced technology has been developed following specific requirements expressed by our customers to meet their own demands in terms of safety, reliability and performance. It has mobilized teams of engineers and experts in materials to achieve this result. It is definitely a good illustration of the way Nexans R&D works, strongly customer-oriented' said Jérôme Fournier, Director of Nexans international Research Center.

About Nexans
With energy as the basis of its development, Nexans, the worldwide leader in the cable industry, offers an extensive range of cables and cabling systems. The Group is a global player in the infrastructure, industry, building and Local Area Network markets. Nexans addresses a series of market segments from energy, transport and telecom networks to shipbuilding, oil and gas, nuclear power, automotive, electronics, aeronautics, handling and automation. With an industrial presence in 39 countries and commercial activities worldwide, Nexans employs 22,400 people and had sales in 2008 of 6.8 billion euros. Nexans is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris, compartment A. More information on www.nexans.com

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