OLEFISTA™

Definition

OLEFISTA™ is a proprietary family of halogen‑free flame‑retardant (HFFR) olefin‑based compounds and functional polyolefin resins designed primarily for wire and cable insulation and jacketing. Formulated as thermoplastic and crosslinkable polyolefin systems, OLEFISTA™ enables low‑smoke, low‑toxicity cable constructions (often described as LSZH/LSOH/LS0H/LSFH/OHLS) for transportation, building, industrial, and energy applications. The brand is part of Mitsubishi Chemical Group’s portfolio of cable materials; exact composition, processing route, and performance are grade‑specific.

Grade types and form

  • Thermoplastic HFFR polyolefin compounds for extrusion of insulation and jackets (many grades do not require irradiation).
  • Silane‑crosslinkable (moisture‑cure) grades for enhanced heat and creep resistance.
  • Electron‑beam (e‑beam) crosslinkable grades for higher thermal classification and deformation resistance.
  • Specialty variants for outdoor durability (UV/ozone), low‑temperature flexibility, high abrasion resistance, and easy stripability.

Key properties or functions (grade‑dependent)

  • Halogen‑free flame retardancy with low smoke and low corrosive/toxic gas emission to support LSZH cable designs.
  • Reliable electrical insulation with high dielectric strength and volume resistivity.
  • Heat resistance tailored to relevant cable classes; automotive wire grades are available to meet elevated continuous‑use temperatures (for example, ISO 6722 classes up to approximately 150 °C with appropriate crosslinking and formulation).
  • Mechanical durability, including flexibility over a wide temperature range, flex‑fatigue resistance, cut‑through and abrasion resistance.
  • Weatherability options for outdoor use (UV stabilization and moisture resistance).
  • Stable extrusion on standard wire and cable equipment, smooth surface finish, consistent concentricity, good printability and colorability (including high‑visibility orange for EV high‑voltage jackets).
  • Sustainability features: halogen‑free formulations reduce smoke toxicity; thermoplastic grades are melt‑recyclable in manufacturing and can support circularity initiatives where applicable.

Relevance and benefits

  • Safety and compliance: Enables LSZH cable systems that help protect people and equipment in confined or public spaces (vehicles, rail, buildings, tunnels, ships, data centers).
  • Automotive and e‑mobility: Supports dense wiring harnesses, EV high‑voltage and low‑voltage cabling, and charging cables where flame retardancy, flexibility, heat performance, and mechanical robustness are required.
  • Processing efficiency: Many grades process on existing cable lines without irradiation, helping reduce capital and operating costs while maintaining throughput and surface quality.

Typical applications

  • Transportation: Automotive primary wires, harness insulation and jacketing (including EV high‑voltage orange jackets), wiring in railway rolling stock and infrastructure, charging cables.
  • Building and construction: LSZH power, control, and communication cables for public or sensitive environments.
  • Industrial and electronics: Equipment wiring, control and instrumentation cables, appliance cords and hook‑up wires.
  • Energy: Photovoltaic (solar) cables and other outdoor or mission‑critical cables where fire safety and weatherability are important.

Processing notes

  • Extrudable on standard wire and cable equipment (single‑ or multi‑layer constructions).
  • Crosslinking options include moisture‑cure silane systems or e‑beam irradiation where elevated thermal and deformation resistance are specified.
  • Optimized for consistent surface, dimensional control, and downstream operations such as printing and stripping; follow grade‑specific recommendations for screw design, temperature profile, and curing conditions.

Compliance and standards (grade‑dependent)

  • Designed to help meet common LSZH and fire‑performance criteria (for example, acidity/corrosivity per IEC/EN 60754, smoke density per IEC/EN 61034, flame tests per IEC/EN/UL methods as specified).
  • Automotive cable performance aligned with relevant standards (for example, ISO 6722 and OEM specifications); other sectors may target IEC, EN, UL/CSA, or rail/marine standards as required.

Related terms and companion brands

  • Common descriptors: HFFR polyolefin, FRPO (flame‑retardant polyolefin), LSZH cable compound.
  • Companion/related Mitsubishi Chemical Group offerings may include LINKLON™ (silane‑crosslinkable polyolefin technology) and TEFABLOC™ T4 FRPO‑type materials, depending on region and application.

Notes

  • OLEFISTA™ is a trademarked brand; properties, approvals, and processing windows are grade‑specific. Always consult the current technical datasheet and regulatory documentation for the specific grade under consideration.
  • Not to be confused with general‑purpose polypropylene or TPO compounds for molded structural parts; OLEFISTA™ is oriented to wire and cable insulation and jacketing applications.

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