24th Annual Conference on Recent Advances in Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials (BCC)

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

Register now to reserve your place at the

24th Annual Conference on Recent Advances in Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials. This Conference is the premier technical event of its type in the US.

Presentations at the conference will:

  • Create a forum for introducing new technological achievements and developments in the field of flame retardancy (FR)
  • Offer an overview of the current state of science and technology in FR
  • Review the applications and markets for FR products
  • Present recent developments in local and global standardization in testing technology
  • Provide a unique opportunity for newcomers to become acquainted with the FR field in all its aspects
  • Discuss nanoparticles effects on flammability
  • Address regulatory issues for flame retardancy
  • Global experts will discuss the latest technological findings in flame retardant materials and their important contributions to the aviation, automotive, computer, construction, electronics, and telecommunications industries.

Stamford Sheraton Hotel • Stamford, CT

Short Course in Selection, Evaluation, and Commercial Application of Flame Retardant Polymers: May 19, 2013

Main Conference on Flame Retardancy: May 20-22, 2013.

Conference Sessions:

  • Industrial and Academics
  • Biopolymers
  • Instrumentation
  • Industry and University
  • Fabrics and Foam
  • Sustainability
  • Work on Some Specific Polymers
  • Composites and Nanocomposites
  • Fire Safety and the Media
  • New Developments in Fire Retardancy

To view complete conference PRESENTATIONS: click here

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Self-assembly of Ni-Fe layered double hydroxide/graphene hybrids for reducing fire hazard application in epoxy composites

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

Published article: Journal of Materials Chemistry A  23 Jan 2013

Abstract

Ni-Fe layered double hydroxide/graphene hybrids were synthesized by a one-pot in situ solvothermal route. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses showed that the formation of Ni-Fe layered double hydroxide (Ni-Fe LDH) and the reduction of graphene oxide occurred simultaneously during the one-pot solvothermal process. TGA results showed that the incorporation of Ni-Fe LDH significantly improved the thermal stability of the graphene. Subsequently, Ni-Fe LDH/graphene hybrids were introduced into epoxy resins for reducing fire hazard application. With the incorporation of 2.0 wt% of Ni-Fe LDH/graphene, the onset thermal degradation temperature of epoxy composite was significantly increased by 25 oC compared to that of pure epoxy. Also, the addition of Ni-Fe LDH/graphene hybrids imparted excellent flame retardant properties to epoxy matrix, evidenced by the dramatically reduced peak heat release rate and total heat release values obtained from micro combustion calorimeter and cone calorimeter. This dramatically reduced fire hazards were mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of Ni-Fe LDH/graphene hybrids: the adsorption and barrier effect of graphene slowed down the thermal degradation of polymer matrix, inhibited the heat and flammable gas release and promoted the formation of graphitized carbons, while Ni-Fe LDH improved the thermal oxidative resistance of the char layer.

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Engineering professor, Jaime Grunlan, invents technology to combat fire hazards

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

By Torri Clark:

Five years of research and testing has advanced a Texas A&M professor and a team of graduate and undergraduate assistants in the direction of engineering a flame retardant technology.

Jaime Grunlan, head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, along with a team of researchers, has discovered a way to use renewable materials to create an environmentally friendly flame retardant “nanocoating” to be used on clothing and household furniture.

Grunlan said fabric and foam are both highly flammable and that people are harmed when they catch fire. “There is a big problem these days, because the best flame retardants are highly toxic,” Grunlan said.

This new technology would take the place of toxic chemicals traditionally used as anti-flammable agents in common household furniture, improving human health conditions in the home while protecting families and their homes from burning in fires.

Several companies are funding continued research in this field at A&M. The goal is to use the new flame retardant technology in the place of toxic coatings when producing a variety of household products, some of which in the past have posed serious health hazards.

“We needed to find flame retardants that are effective, but also safe for both humans and the environment,” said post-doctoral research assistant Galina Laufer.

The coatings are made of two water-soluble polymers, one positively charged and one negatively charged. This forms a coating 1,000 times thinner than a typical layer of paint used on houses, earning it the name “nanocoating.”

The coating is not visible to the eye, nor does it alter the properties of the foam or cotton fibers on which it is used. The coating forms what Laufer refers to as a “nano-brick wall” between the flame and the coated object.

Though the polymer coating does not make an object 100 percent fireproof, Grunlan said the coating dramatically diminishes the ability of the object to burn.

Grunlan hopes the first application of the polymer coating for commercial use will begin one year from now. However, the largest problem facing companies at this point is inventing and building machines to make and apply the coating on a commercial scale.

By using renewable, water-soluble and dispersible substances found naturally in the environment, Grunlan and his team have found a way to not only prevent objects from catching fire, but also a way to protect families from harmful effects of toxic chemicals.

This new advancement has the potential to greatly impact the way humans fight fire, while at the same time change the makeup of everyday household products, and possibly even save lives.

“I wanted to work on this because I saw a great opportunity,” Kevin Holder, mechanical engineering graduate assistant said. “Not only to get real world results, but also to help keep people safe.

Source: Thebatt

    Jaime Grunlan jgrunlan

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Flame Retardants: Design for Environment and End-of-Life – is there a life after WEEE, RoHS and REACH?

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

By: Dr. Adrian Beard-Clariant GmbH

Abstract
Flame retardants are a key element of the safety of many products of daily life and in the workplace environment. Many plastics, textiles and natural materials are quite flammable and burn well. In a number of application areas this fire risk has to be reduced by measures like the use of flame retardants – the E&E sector being one of the most prominent areas. However, there are concerns about the environmental and health properties of some flame retardants, in particular brominated systems. The European WEEE and RoHS directives have responded to these concerns and declared the phase out of PBBs (polybrominated biphenyls) and PBDEs (polybrominated diphenylethers) as well demanding the separation of plastics containing brominated flame retardants before further recycling operations. In expectance of these directives and the growing pressure on halogenated flame retardants, the flame retardants market has responded with an increasing demand for non-halogenated flame retardants. Phosphorus and nitrogen based as well as mineral flame retardants have experienced above average growth rates over the last years. Material recycling of flame retarded plastics is usually technically feasible – the major problem is how to obtain a continuous supply of input material which is well defined in its composition. Otherwise, only feedstock recycling or energy recovery are sensible options.

Download two pdf documents: Document 1 –  Document 2

Axion-Polymers-processes-a-wide-range-of-rigid-waste-plastics

 

 

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Synthesis of a phenylene phenyl phosphine oligomer and its flame retardancy for polycarbonate

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

published article:   Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Volume 127, Issue 4, pages 2855–2866, 15 February 2013

Abstract

A novel flame retardant, phenylene phenyl phosphine oligomer (PPPO) was synthesized and its chemical structure was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H, 13C, 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometer. PPPO was used to impart flame retardancy to polycarbonate (PC). Combustion behaviors and thermal degradation properties of PC/PPPO system were assayed by limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL-94), cone calorimeter test, and thermogravimetric analysis. PC/6 wt % PPPO passed UL-94 V-0 rating with 3.0 mm samples and the LOI value was 34.1%, and PC/8 wt % PPPO also passed UL-94 V-0 rating with 1.6 mm samples and the LOI value was 36.3%. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the char properties had crucial effects on the flame retardancy of PC. Mechanical properties and water resistance of PC/PPPO system were also measured. After water resistance test, PC/6 wt % PPPO with 3.0 mm samples and PC/8 wt % PPPO with 1.6 mm samples kept V-0 rating and mass loss was only 0.2%. The results revealed that PPPO was an efficient flame retardant for PC.

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Events-2013

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

Find the futur events on 2013 in this page: Event

 

 

 

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