Coating cables with fireproof coatings is like draping these “lifelines” of electricity with a protective armor less than a millimeter thick. This microscopic line of defense received a technological upgrade in 2025: the newly released national mandatory standard GB 28374-2025 “Fire-retardant Coatings for Cables” will be implemented in June 2026, providing a stronger barrier for cable safety. The Deadly Threat of Cable Fires The outer layer of cables is typically made of plastics (such as PVC and polyethylene). In a fire, these materials serve not only as fuel but also as deadly gas generators. When heated, they decompose, releasing toxic gases such as hydrogen chloride and dioxins. Over 70% of […]

1. Preparation before selection: clarify the core demand parameters The first step in purchasing cables is not to look at the product, but to sort out your own needs. Just like a doctor needs to diagnose a condition before prescribing, the three core parameters of cable selection need to be clear: Electrical parameters are the foundation of the foundation. Record the rated voltage (such as 450/750V), continuous current (such as 30A) and peak current (such as the instantaneous current when starting the motor) required by the equipment. These data directly determine the safe range of the conductor cross section. The laying environment is often overlooked but is crucial. Measure wiring length (affecting voltage drop calculation), confirm ambient temperature (heat-resistant materials are […]

1 Differences in conductivity and fire risks The starting point of electrical fires is often hidden in invisible resistance. The resistivity of copper is only 1.678 μΩ·cm, while the resistivity of aluminum is as high as 2.82 μΩ·cm, which is about 68% higher than copper. This difference in physical properties directly determines the heat generated by the wire when it is energized. When current passes through a conductor, according to Joule’s law, the heat generated is proportional to the resistance. This means that under the same load, aluminum wire generates more heat than copper wire, and the temperature rise is more significant. Asian Cable Technology experts pointed out: “The temperature rise […]

1. Material Revolution: Molecular Breakthrough of Insulation Layer and Conductor The core bottleneck of the transmission performance of wires and cables lies in dielectric loss and conductor impedance, and material innovation is solving this problem at the molecular level. Foaming insulation technology has become a key path to increase the rate. The patent of Changfei Optical Fiber shows that by optimizing the foaming material formula, the foaming degree of the insulation layer can reach 85%, and the uniformity of the foam cells is significantly improved. This reduces the attenuation of the RF coaxial cable from 6.3dB to 5.64dB per 100 meters at a frequency of 2700MHz, and the attenuation index is improved by […]

1. “Urban powder keg”: old lines become the source of fire The fuse of electrical fire is buried deep in the walls of buildings. When the insulation layer of the wire ages and breaks, the metal conductor is exposed like a sharp blade. Data shows that short circuits account for 73.7% of the causes of electrical fires, while overload and fault arcs contribute 9.8% and 10.6% respectively. In 2025, many residential fires in Bole City were caused by electrical faults and short circuits that ignited combustibles such as carpets and paperboards. The seemingly insignificant 4 square meters of fire area were the life and death escapes of the residents of […]

1. Blood and tears warning: non-standard cables are invisible fire bombs Statistics from the Ministry of Emergency Management show that cable problems have become the primary cause of fire. In the past ten years, major fire accidents caused by cables in the country accounted for more than 50% of the total number of fires, of which non-standard cables were the culprit. In 2020, a fire at the Chengguan Trade Market in Nandan County, Guangxi, killed one firefighter and injured six people; in 2013, a fire at the Rongjian Agricultural Wholesale Market in Shenzhen caused 16 deaths and direct economic losses of 17.81 million yuan – the direct cause of both accidents […]

1. Production process advantages: a natural choice for manufacturing efficiency The manufacturing of wires and cables is a high-speed and continuous industrial process, where the round design demonstrates unparalleled production advantages. From conductor drawing to multi-layer insulation extrusion, round dies are technically the easiest to achieve and the lowest cost. In the wire drawing process, the metal wire is stretched and thinned through a series of gradually shrinking round dies (usually made of diamond or carbide), and this process naturally forms a round cross-section. During the insulation coating stage, the round cross-section allows the extruder to evenly wrap the conductor and avoid uneven thickness at sharp corners. Engineers at Qingdao […]

1. The invisible threat of traditional cables, the fatal cost behind burning The insulation layer of traditional cables is mostly made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and its flame retardancy depends on halogen additives. Once a fire breaks out, These halogen-containing materials will release toxic gases such as hydrogen chloride and dioxins and produce a lot of black smoke. Thick smoke can reduce visibility to less than 1 meter within 30 seconds, and hydrogen chloride forms hydrochloric acid when it meets water, which further corrodes firefighting equipment and the human respiratory tract. More seriously, such cables are very likely to cause a “chimney effect” in confined spaces such as high-rise buildings and subway […]

1. Structural cornerstone: exquisite design ensures efficient transmission of electric energy Medium-voltage cables are not simply wrapped wires, but are precision-coordinated engineering systems. The core conductors are generally made of high-purity annealed copper or specific aluminum alloys. Copper is the first choice for its excellent conductivity (international annealed copper standard IACS 100%), while aluminum alloys have significant advantages in lightweight and cost-sensitive scenarios. The insulation layer is the lifeline of safety. Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) has become the mainstream due to its excellent electrical strength, heat resistance and environmental stability (operating temperature often reaches 90°C), gradually replacing early polyethylene (PE) or ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR). The outer sheath is made of tough […]

Global market pattern: dual expansion of scale and power The oxygen-free copper market is expanding at an astonishing rate. The global market size reached $20.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $26 billion by 2028, with a stable annual compound growth rate of about 5.3%. The core driving force of this growth comes from three major areas: Semiconductor and consumer electronics rely on its high conductivity to achieve miniaturized circuit design The explosive growth of electric vehicles has driven a surge in demand for battery components Renewable energy infrastructure construction relies on its efficient power transmission performance Data show that the automotive industry has become the largest application area of oxygen-free copper, accounting […]