SCG™ HDPE TR117WC: Specialty Polymer for Maximum Safety of Fiber Optic Cables

A Collaboration between Experts from TOT and Chemicals Business, SCG

Given such a vital role that communication plays both in the business sphere and in our daily life, TOT Public Company Limited, as a telecommunications service provider, has a duty to oversee and develop the telecommunication system to ensure that it remains functional at all time. To achieve this goal, one key task is to further enhance its signal cables, for which there is still room for improvement. This has led to a partnership between TOT and Chemicals Business, SCG, a leading expert on plastics, and joint research to develop a high performance polymer jacket for fiber optic cables, focusing on achieving greater safety.

The Beginning of the Collaboration

As both shared a strong commitment to the promotion of public welfare and the enhancement of public safety, TOT and SCG decided to form a partnership. Speaking of SCG’s decision to embark on this collaborative project, an SCG representative said that TOT is an organization that attaches great significance to safety and is truly determined to create innovation that will solve its cable problems to improve the safety of all Thais. Working towards the same goal, SCG would like to join forces with TOT and contribute to the project with its expertise in materials.

Naritsomjarern Sumpaopol, Manager of Testing and Calibration at TOT Innovation Institute, TOT Public Company Limited, said that the joint study on fiber optic cables and fire accidents prevention has revealed that once the current cable jacket catches fire, the fire will spread quickly and melt the material, causing it to drip and set other cables or buildings in the vicinity on fire. This could also disrupt the telecommunication network in that particular area, as TOT officers would have to wait for a very long time for the fire to stop before they can begin the maintenance.

From Expertise to Practical Solutions

In response to the findings, researchers at SCG worked into invent materials that would help prevent issues. As there was no material that met the requirements on the market at that time (2018), SCG developed a new flame-retardant material using its own proprietary technology, which significantly reduced the fire spreading and dripping of the plastic when melted issues. In addition to the flame-retardant property, the newly created material is also lighter and can help reduce the overall weight of the cable.

Prior to this collaborative project, TOT had to perform laboratory testing by itself, relying on the limited number of scientists it had and information acquired from the Department of Science and university lecturers. However, through this collaboration, we can see that SCG is a bona fide material expert with a strong team of specialists. Therefore, when it comes to materials, TOT is confident that it has found a partner who can offer it great assistance.

High Safety Fiber Optic Cables for the Welfare of Thai Citizens

The newly invented cable jacket material SCG™ HDPE TR117WC has been piloted in Mae Hong Son, one of the provinces with the highest number of fire accidents on telecomcable, covering 100 kilometers in total. The material has also been planned for use in other high-risk areas, such as densely populated communities in many major cities across Thailand, to maximize public safety.

The fruit of this collaboration between TOT and SCG is not only an innovation that improves society, but also another step in the country’s technological advancement – a new beginning that will help elevate the quality of life and safety in Thailand.

Naritsomjarern Sumpaopol,

Manager of Testing and Calibration at TOT Innovation Institute, TOT Public Company Limited

“Through this collaboration, we can see that SCG is a bona fide material expert with a strong team of specialists. Therefore, when it comes to materials, we are confident that it has found a partner who can offer us great assistance”

FR-PE Project Team, Chemicals Business, SCG

“SCG is very impressed collaborating with TOT as it is one of the very first entity to step outside of its comfort zone and actively works to address real problems rather turning a blind eye to them.”

High Safety fiber optic cables

Products of the collaboration between TOT and Chemicals Business, SCG

 

1. The new material for fiber optic cable jackets, SCG™ HDPE TR117WC.
2. SCG’s specialty lightweight polymer with proven fire-retardant properties
3. Special properties: After it is exposed to fire, the cable will remain functional for seven days, allowing time for maintenance.