DURAVOLTA – halogen-free alternative to Formex GK, made in Germany
Flame-retardant polypropylene insulation film, UL 94 V-0 from 0.43 mm (0.017 in). Free sample sheets ship from within the US within 24 hours.
DURAVOLTA
Halogen-free. UL listed. Made in Germany.
DURAVOLTA is a halogen-free, flame-retardant polypropylene film for electrical insulation. It is manufactured by 1A STAR technische Kunststoffe GmbH in Kirchhundem, Germany, and listed with UL under File number E354767 for the USA and Canada. Polytec Solutions is the US representative for DURAVOLTA. US engineers and buyers use DURAVOLTA as a drop-in alternative to Formex GK-5, GK-10, GK-17, GK-30 and GK-40 in the same thicknesses.
From 0.43 mm (0.017 in), DURAVOLTA is rated UL 94 V-0. The thin 0.25 mm film is rated VTM-0, the UL 94 class for thin films.
. Which DURAVOLTA replaces your Formex GK type?
Formex GK types are named after their thickness in thousandths of an inch: GK-17 is 0.017 in. The DURAVOLTA type name gives the thickness in hundredths of a millimeter: DURAVOLTA 43 is 0.43 mm. Same thickness, same application.
| Formex | Thickness | DURAVOLTA | UL 94 rating of DURAVOLTA |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK-5 | 0.005 in (0.13 mm) | DURAVOLTA 12 | VTM-0 (in-house test, UL listing in preparation) |
| GK-10 | 0.010 in (0.25 mm) | DURAVOLTA 25 | VTM-0 |
| GK-17 | 0.017 in (0.43 mm) | DURAVOLTA 43 | V-0 |
| GK-30 | 0.030 in (0.76 mm) | DURAVOLTA 76 | V-0 |
| GK-40 | 0.040 in (1.02 mm) | DURAVOLTA 100 | V-0 |
Not sure which type fits your part? Send us your drawing or the Formex part number, and we will tell you which DURAVOLTA type to use.
Formex is a trademark of ITW. Polytec Solutions and 1A STAR are not affiliated with ITW.
UL 94 rating by thickness
DURAVOLTA is listed with UL under File E354767, in category QMFZ2 for the USA and QMFZ8 for Canada, since October 28, 2014. UL monitors the listing continuously.
- 0.43 to 1.1 mm: UL 94 V-0
- 0.25 mm: UL 94 VTM-0
- 0.125 mm: VTM-0 by in-house test, UL listing in preparation
- 0.10 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm: not UL rated
Your specification says V-0, but you need 0.010 in? For films this thin, UL 94 uses the VTM test instead of the V test, because thin films deform too much in the V test to give a meaningful result. VTM-0 is the best VTM class. Some specifications accept "V-0 or VTM-0", others require V-0 explicitly. In the second case, use DURAVOLTA 43 or thicker.
. Technical data
| Property | Value | Test standard |
|---|---|---|
| Flammability | V-0 from 0.43 mm, VTM-0 at 0.25 mm | UL 94 |
| Halogen-free | yes | IEC 61249-2-21 |
| Relative thermal index, electrical | 120 °C | UL 746B |
| Relative thermal index, mechanical | 105 °C | UL 746B |
| Comparative tracking index (CTI) | PLC 0 (≥ 600 V) | UL 746A |
| Dielectric strength | 43 kV/mm | ASTM D149 |
| Volume resistivity | 1.0 × 10¹⁴ ohm·cm | ASTM D257 |
| Tensile strength | ≥ 18 N/mm² | ISO 527-2 |
| Elongation at break | ≥ 50 % | ISO 527-2 |
| Impact strength (23 °C) | ≥ 35 kJ/m² | ISO 179 |
| Notched impact strength (23 °C) | ≥ 1.5 kJ/m² | ISO 179 |
| Flexural modulus | ≥ 2,200 N/mm² | ISO 178 |
DURAVOLTA is also REACH and RoHS compliant, non-hygroscopic and resistant to acids and alkalis. For parts under mechanical load, use the 105 °C value. DURAVOLTA is not intended for continuous operating temperatures above these thermal indices.
. Product range
| Type | Thickness | Rolls (width × length) | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| DURAVOLTA 10 | 0.10 mm (0.004 in) | on request | on request |
| DURAVOLTA 12 | 0.125 mm (0.005 in) | 610 mm × 1,220 m | stocked |
| DURAVOLTA 25 | 0.25 mm (0.010 in) | 610 mm × 610 m | stocked |
| DURAVOLTA 43 | 0.43 mm (0.017 in) | 610 mm × 305 m | 2,000 × 1,000 mm |
| DURAVOLTA 76 | 0.76 mm (0.030 in) | on request | 2,000 × 1,000 mm |
| DURAVOLTA 100 | 1.00 mm (0.040 in) | on request | 2,000 × 1,000 mm |
Sheets in 2 mm and 3 mm are also available but not UL rated. Thicker sheets on request. DURAVOLTA comes in natural / white only; black is not available. Granules from 500 kg.
. Finished parts to drawing
Besides rolls and sheets, DURAVOLTA is supplied as finished parts to your drawing, from one piece to series: die-cut and CNC-cut parts, creased and bent parts such as enclosures, ducts and covers, and parts with self-adhesive backing. Injection-molded and thermoformed parts are available through a partner company.
Applications
DURAVOLTA insulates and separates live components where a flame-retardant, halogen-free material is required:
- Control cabinets: busbar insulation, insulation between components, partition walls, air ducts
- Battery storage systems and EV charging stations
- Power supplies and UPS
- Inverters, converters, servo and machine controls
- Server and telecom equipment: filler plates, air baffles
- LED lighting
- Automotive components
- Consumer electronics
Free DURAVOLTA sample – shipped within the US
We send US companies a free DURAVOLTA sample sheet. Samples ship from within the US within 24 hours of your request, so there is no customs paperwork for you.
Please include in your request: company name, shipping address, your application, and the Formex type you currently use.
Production orders ship directly from the manufacturer in Germany. Delivery time and shipping costs depend on type, quantity and destination; we confirm both with your quote. We answer enquiries on the same business day.
About Polytec Solutions
Polytec Solutions is a trade name of wela LLC, 30 N Gould St, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA. Polytec Solutions represents DURAVOLTA in the United States: we handle sample requests, answer technical questions and pass orders to the manufacturer, 1A STAR technische Kunststoffe GmbH in Kirchhundem, Germany.
. Frequently asked questions
What is the alternative to Formex GK-17?
DURAVOLTA 43. It has the same thickness of 0.017 in (0.43 mm), is rated UL 94 V-0 and is halogen-free. GK-10 corresponds to DURAVOLTA 25, GK-30 to DURAVOLTA 76 and GK-40 to DURAVOLTA 100.
Is DURAVOLTA UL listed?
Yes. DURAVOLTA is listed with UL under File E354767, category QMFZ2 for the USA and QMFZ8 for Canada, since October 2014. UL 94 V-0 applies from 0.43 mm to 1.1 mm; the 0.25 mm film is rated VTM-0.
Is there a V-0 film in 0.010 in (0.25 mm)?
At 0.25 mm, UL 94 tests films with the VTM method instead of the V test. DURAVOLTA 25 achieves VTM-0, the best class of that method. If your specification requires V-0 explicitly, use DURAVOLTA 43 (0.017 in) or thicker.
Who makes DURAVOLTA?
DURAVOLTA is manufactured by 1A STAR technische Kunststoffe GmbH in Kirchhundem, Germany. Polytec Solutions is the US representative for DURAVOLTA.
Can I get a free sample in the US?
Yes. We send US companies a free DURAVOLTA sample sheet from within the US. Send us your company name, shipping address, application and the Formex type you currently use. Samples ship within 24 hours of your request.
Where do orders ship from?
Production orders ship from the manufacturer in Germany. Delivery time and shipping costs depend on type, quantity and destination; we confirm both with your quote.
Is DURAVOLTA halogen-free?
Yes, according to IEC 61249-2-21. There has never been a halogenated version. DURAVOLTA is also REACH and RoHS compliant.
Is DURAVOLTA available in black?
No. DURAVOLTA is produced in natural / white only, and the UL listing applies to this color.
Can I order finished parts instead of film?
Yes. DURAVOLTA is supplied as die-cut, cut, bent and self-adhesive parts to your drawing, from one piece. Send your drawing with thickness, quantity and required flammability rating.