Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR (Flame-retardant grade)
Flame-retardant grade
also Nida-Core
Specify for rail, bus and building interior panels needing EN 45545 / UL 94 V-0 class core behaviour.
Values for the FR condition
Other Polypropylene Honeycomb Core grades and fills
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at Polypropylene Honeycomb Core.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60 kg/m³ | Lowest-cost, lightest grade for lightly loaded display panels, interior linings and packaging sandwich boards. | — | 0.35 | — | — |
Recycled-PP content core | Lowest cost and lowest embodied carbon; accept slightly lower and more scattered mechanical values. | — | 0.5 | — | — |
FRThis page Flame-retardant grade | Specify for rail, bus and building interior panels needing EN 45545 / UL 94 V-0 class core behaviour. | — | 0.55 | — | — |
PP-HC-80Default 80 kg/m³ | The workhorse grade: best strength-to-cost balance for truck bodies, floors, boat and RV panels. | — | 0.6 | — | — |
110 kg/m³ | Pick when flatwise crush and skin-bonding pressure during pressing are high (container/trailer floors, pallets). | — | 0.9 | — | — |
150 kg/m³ | Highest crush resistance PP core for forklift-trafficked floors and local insert/hardpoint areas. | — | 1 | — | — |
What is Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR?
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR is Polypropylene Honeycomb Core in the FR grade — specify for rail, bus and building interior panels needing EN 45545 / UL 94 V-0 class core behaviour. Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR has a tensile strength of 0.55 MPa (0.0798 ksi), weaker than 97% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 0.05 GPa (0.007 Msi). Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR has a density of 0.09 g/cm³ (0.0033 lb/in³), lighter than 88% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -10°C (14 °F). PP-HC-80 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; FR is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 2.1 kg CO₂/kg, better than 97% of composite grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 94% of composite grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.05%, better than 94% of composite grades
- Lightweight — 0.09 g/cm³ (0.0033 lb/in³), better than 88% of composite grades
- Easy to machine — 78/100, better than 80% of composite grades
Limitations
- High mold shrinkage — 1.4%, worse than 100% of composite grades
- Low stiffness — 0.05 GPa (0.007 Msi), worse than 94% of composite grades
- Limited service temperature — 80°C (176 °F), worse than 94% of composite grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 20/100, worse than 94% of composite grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.05 W/m·K (0.03 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of composite grades
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR properties
Typical room-temperature values for Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR; 17 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Polypropylene Honeycomb Core reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical5
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR has a density of 0.09 g/cm³ (0.0033 lb/in³), lighter than 88% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -10°C (14 °F).
Mechanical6
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR has a tensile strength of 0.55 MPa (0.0798 ksi), weaker than 97% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 0.05 GPa (0.007 Msi).
Thermal11
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °F). It conducts heat at 0.05 W/m·K (0.03 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 100 µm/m·K (55.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 94% of composite grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR takes about 80 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 84% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability4
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR's machinability is very good (78/100, better than 80% of composite grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR
Is Polypropylene Honeycomb Core easy to machine?
Cuts easily with band saw, hot knife, CNC router or water jet; keep tools sharp and feed fast to avoid melt smearing, and support the core to prevent cell crushing.
Can Polypropylene Honeycomb Core be welded?
Cell walls are thermally weldable (hot-plate, ultrasonic, hot-air) to PP skins; no solvent bonding — PP cannot be solvent-cemented.
Can Polypropylene Honeycomb Core be formed, bent or molded?
Core is heat-formable/crushable to curves and can be co-pressed with PP-GF or thermoplastic skins at 170–200 °C; avoid dwell above 150 °C or the cell walls collapse.
What surface finishes work on Polypropylene Honeycomb Core?
Non-polar surface must be corona/flame/plasma treated or supplied with nonwoven scrim before PU, epoxy or PSA bonding; no painting or plating of the core itself.
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| carbon black / UV stabilizerUV-stabilized (black) variants only | 0 – 2.5 | 0.5 |
| flame retardant packageFR variants only | 0 – 20 | 0 |
| PET/glass nonwoven scrimscrim-faced variants; typ. 20–100 g/m² per face | 0 – 15 | 0 |
| polypropylene (homopolymer/copolymer)extrusion-grade PP, cell-wall material | ≥ 95 (balance) | — |
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR — frequently asked
What is Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR used for?
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR is typically used for truck/trailer floor panels, furniture and partition panels, signage panels and automotive interior panels. In short: lowest-cost moisture-proof core; recyclable thermoplastic honeycomb; 80 °C service ceiling.
What is the tensile strength of Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR?
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR has a typical tensile strength of 0.55 MPa (0.0798 ksi) — weaker than 97% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (78/100, better than 80% of composite grades). Cuts easily with band saw, hot knife, CNC router or water jet; keep tools sharp and feed fast to avoid melt smearing, and support the core to prevent cell crushing.
Can Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR be welded?
Cell walls are thermally weldable (hot-plate, ultrasonic, hot-air) to PP skins; no solvent bonding — PP cannot be solvent-cemented.
What surface finishes work on Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR?
Non-polar surface must be corona/flame/plasma treated or supplied with nonwoven scrim before PU, epoxy or PSA bonding; no painting or plating of the core itself.
Can Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR be formed, bent or molded?
Core is heat-formable/crushable to curves and can be co-pressed with PP-GF or thermoplastic skins at 170–200 °C; avoid dwell above 150 °C or the cell walls collapse.
What is the maximum service temperature of Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR?
Polypropylene Honeycomb Core FR is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °F), and briefly to 110°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- PP honeycomb core (H8PP series) technical data — Nida-Core / 3A Composites (2022)
- ThermHex thermoplastic honeycomb core datasheets — EconCore / ThermHex Waben (2023)
- Tubus round-cell PP honeycomb core data — Tubus Bauer (2021)
- ASTM C365 – Flatwise Compressive Properties of Sandwich Cores — ASTM (2022)
- ASTM C273 – Shear Properties of Sandwich Core Materials — ASTM (2020)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 – Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS polypropylene resin datasheets — CAMPUS/CWFG (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.