Tips! How To Choose A Polymer Flame Retardant?

Tips! How to choose a polymer flame retardant?

Finding the right flame retardant for your polymer

Brominated flame retardants are used in the manufacture of rigid printed circuit boards made from epoxy or phenolic resins. Some examples of brominated flame retardants in textile treatments include:

Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PeBDE) is compatible with polyurethanes

Tetrabromophthalic acid disodium salt

Pentabromoethylbenzene (5BEB) is compatible with unsaturated polyester and SBR

Chlorinated resins are compatible with soft PVC. Solid grades with a high chlorine content are used in thermoplastics such as LDPE The main applications for these products are flexible and rigid polyurethane foams. Polymers compatible with melamine-based flame retardants include TPU and nylon.

Phosphorus based flame retardants are effective with PU foams, PC/ABS and PPO/HIPS blends due to their good physical properties and UV stability. Phosphorus compounds are also suitable for polyamides, polyesters, EVA, PVC, epoxy and MF resins.

The use of ATH in thermoplastics is widespread and growing rapidly in Europe. The environmental impact of halogenated organic chemicals is of great concern.

ATH is used in flexible and rigid PVC, EPR, EPDM, EVA, EEA, LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, PE and PP blends, as well as in new plastomers and flexomers resulting from metallocene catalyst technology.ATH is added as a flame retardant to several other polymers used in the various applications described below.

1. rubber: styrene-butadiene rubber latex used in the manufacture of flame-retardant carpets, rubber-insulated cables, insulating foams, conveyor belts, roofing and hoses.

2. unsaturated polyester resins: used in laminated countertops, wallpaper, sheet molding compounds, bulk molding compounds, etc.. These polyesters are used for bathroom fixtures and enclosures, decorative wall panels, appliance housings, automobile hoods and decks, molded seats, truck fronts, and more.

3. Epoxy and Phenolic Resins: Used in electrical/electronic and construction applications, they are compatible with phenolic and epoxy resins. They are used for brackets, insulators, circuit boards, countertops and sinks, bathroom vanities, decorative enclosures and wall panels.

4. Pultruded products: Used to produce profiles for architectural applications.

MDH is used for thermoplastics and thermosets processed above 200-225°C. This is because of their higher decomposition temperature. This is due to their higher decomposition temperature and higher cost. They can be used in PP, PP blends, ABS, ABS alloys and blends, fluoropolymers, PPO, PPO alloys and blends, polyimides and aliphatic polyketones.

MDH cannot be used in thermoplastic polyester resins because they catalyze the decomposition of the resin. silicone flame retardants in HIPS, PP, PS blends and EVA.

Silicone-modified polyurethanes (PUs) have been reported to improve the flammability and LOI of end products, and studies of silicone-modified PUs have shown a reduction in the release rate of these materials compared to unmodified PUs.

New silicone-based flame retardants for polycarbonate (PC) and PC/ABS resins offer good mechanical properties and high flame retardancy.

High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)

Brominated flame retardants are the most cost-effective materials for imparting flame retardancy to HIPS. Phosphated flame retardants are best suited for PPO-HIPS blends.HIPS is widely used in many applications due to its excellent balance of properties and low cost. Electrical/electronic and household appliances are two of the most important areas where flame retardancy is required for applications up to 80°C. Polyolefin (PO) is the most cost-effective material for PPO-HIPS blends.

Polyolefins (PO)

Polyethylene, EVA - Wire and cable (low and medium voltage) cable jacketing, automotive, building and construction. ATH and MDH are the preferred solutions for demanding fire protection applications.

Polypropylene - PP lies between everyday and engineering plastics. They are commonly used in cables, connectors, utility seating (stadiums), accessory housings and PP fibers (carpets, seating.) MDH is the solution for demanding applications.

TPO-Major applications include roofing membranes, automotive interior applications, flexible cables and shrink films.

Brominated flame retardants are the most cost-effective materials for imparting flame retardant properties to PE and PP.

Polyamide (PA)

Choosing the right brominated flame retardant for connectors is critical. MDH flame retardants allow processors to produce flame-retardant PAs that do not contain halogen or phosphorus compounds. PA applications requiring flame retardancy are components and housings for electrical and electronic applications.

Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)

Selection of the appropriate brominated flame retardant for connectors is important to meet material specifications and processability (thin walls) at the lowest possible cost.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

The most suitable brominated flame retardant for ABS depends largely on the requirements of the final application. Phosphorus-based flame retardants are best suited for PC-ABS blends. Acrylonitrile is chemically resistant and thermally stable; butadiene provides toughness and impact strength; and the styrene component provides rigidity and processability to ABS.

Rigid Polyurethanes

To achieve the desired level of performance, reactive brominated flame retardants are recommended. Choosing the right phosphorus flame retardant can have a significant impact on final performance. Rigid polyurethane foams requiring flame retardancy are mainly used for insulation in building construction (roofing, wall panels) and refrigeration.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

MDH or ATH can be added as FR to achieve the desired properties. pvc is a non-flammable plastic, however, the addition of plasticizers can lead to a dramatic increase in flammability and smoke density.

Natural and Synthetic Rubber

Cross-linked elastomers using MDH or ATH have led the way in flame retardancy for many years. Typical applications include seals, gaskets, conveyor belts, cables, profiles, foams or protective covers.

Sustainable and environmentally friendly flame retardants

Sustainable flame retardants are made from green or biodegradable chemicals or waste. Many innovative bio-based flame retardants are made from: phytic acid, proteins and chitin. biomass waste such as egg shells, rice husks, and oyster shell powder. Their only goal is to minimize the impact on the environment and on human life. For example, bio-based flame retardants have lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional flame retardants.

Why shift from traditional to sustainable options?

Flame retardants are very effective in improving the fire performance of plastics. However, their toxicity can cause some environmental problems. Halogenated flame retardants release toxic gases, halides, and fumes when exposed to heat. Heat breaks them down into toxic substances such as dioxins and furan derivatives. These compounds can be hazardous to human health. Some flame retardants precipitate out of the polymer matrix over time. Precipitation exposes water, air and the environment to these toxic gases. Recycling or incinerating products containing toxic flame retardants can contaminate recycling plants. Contaminants may alter the properties of the recycled product. This can lead to the production of inferior products. Some government regulations prohibit the manufacture and use of halogenated flame retardants. Regulations require the use of green/environmentally friendly, bio-based and sustainable flame retardants. Bio-based flame retardants offer better recycling opportunities and are also biodegradable. Therefore, the use of sustainable flame retardants will serve as a bridge between economic growth, health and environmental safety.

Environmentally Friendly Flame Retardant Reinforced Plastics in Sustainable Waste Management

Plastics containing environmentally friendly flame retardants have proven to be fully compatible with all waste management methods. This is especially true for recycling and reuse. Certain combinations of plastics with environmentally friendly flame retardants have been specified by leading copier manufacturers. This is due in part to their excellent stability during the recycling process. Recycling is already underway for 30 percent of some new copiers containing recycled plastics with brominated flame retardants. A recent study concluded that ABS plastics containing BFRs outperform other plastics in terms of recyclability. They can be recycled up to five times. This fully meets the most stringent environmental and fire safety requirements. The Swedish company Boliden has developed a recycling process. The process is suitable for electrical and electronic equipment waste. The process complies with Swedish regulations and the metal can be recycled. Plastics provide part of the energy in the smelting process. Plastics containing bromine flame retardants have been tested in this process. They fully comply with the smelter's requirements. Thus, plastics containing environmentally friendly flame retardants in the waste stream offer producers a variety of viable options. These plastics are environmentally and economically suitable for waste recycling and reuse.

YINSU Flame Retardant Company, as a pioneer in the flame retardant industry, specializes in the research, development and production of various types of new environmentally friendly and efficient flame retardants. The company's extensive product line of red phosphorus flame retardants is suitable not only for new materials but also especially for recycled materials. Especially, red phosphorus flame retardant is getting more and more favor. It is not only suitable for new materials, but also can effectively enhance the flame retardant performance of recycled materials, especially in cost control shows significant advantages. The application of this flame retardant in recycled materials provides a safe, economical and environmentally friendly solution for the plastics industry with its excellent flame retardant effect and cost effectiveness.