Flame Retardant Mechanism of a Novel Intumescent Flame Retardant Polypropylene

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

This article was published in Procedia Engineering-2013:

Abstract

A novel intumescent flame retardant was incorporated into polypropylene to prepare novel intumescent flame retardant composites (PP/IFR) with good flame retardant properties. The flame retardant mechanism was investigated by means of Laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TGA-IR), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). It was found that the IFR could decrease the degradation rate of PP; the formed intumescent char was containing unorganized carbon structure and graphitic structure, and consisting of P, N, O and C elements. FTIR analysis showed that the network with P-O-P and P-O-C were formed. EDS analysis results revealed that some P elements were connected to the polyaromatic rings and could form huge connected network.

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Study on the preparation and properties of novel transparent fire-resistive coatings

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

This article was published inJournal of Coatings Technology and Research- March 2013:

Abstract

A cyclic polyphosphate (CPPA) was synthesized by the reaction of polyphosphoric acid and pentaerythritol. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was introduced in the structure of CPPA to improve its solubility in water and ethanol and five kinds of reactive type flame retardants (MCPPA) were obtained. 31P NMR, 1H NMR, FTIR, and TGA were used to characterize the composition and structure of CPPA and MCPPAs. The experimental results showed that there were 25% cyclic P–O–C structures in the product and MCPPA had better carbonization ability than CPPA. Five kinds of transparent fire-resistive coatings were prepared by the mixing of amino resin with five kinds of MCPPAs. The results of the fire protection test showed that both the fire-resistive time of coatings and intumescent factor of char layers decreased with the increase of molecular weight of PEG. The results of TGA and EDS showed that the carbonaceous residue of coatings and the antioxidation ability of char layers also decreased regularly with the increase of molecular weight of PEG. The SEM images demonstrated that the coating prepared with low molecular weight of PEG contributed to dense form structure and narrow distribution of cell size. Above all, the transparent fire-resistive coating prepared with PEG 200 had the best fire retardancy and stable thermal behavior.

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World Flame Retardants Market to Grow 5.4% annually to 2016

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

Report Buyer:

Global demand for flame retardants is forecast to rise 5.4 percent annually to 2.6 million metric tons in 2016. According to the report ‘World Flame Retardants’ advances will represent an acceleration over the 2006-2011 period, in which demand was severely impacted by the effects of a global economic slowdown, especially in the mature markets of the US, Western Europe, and Japan. In addition to an improved economic outlook, flame retardant demand through 2016 will benefit from trends toward improved fire safety and flammability standards and the rising use of plastic products over less flammable materials.

Non-halogenated types to benefit from favorable environmental profiles

Alumina trihydrate was the leading flame retardant product by volume in 2011, and is expected to post above-average gains in demand through 2016, driven by trends toward non-halogenated chemicals. Halogenated types (chlorinated and brominated) will see subpar advances due to health and safety concerns, while in turn providing opportunities for a number of non-halogenated alternatives. Flame retardants that feature more favorable environmental profiles, including boron, phosphorus, melamine, and magnesium hydroxide, will benefit most from the trend away from the use of halogenated chemicals. However, although brominated flame retardants are being phased out of a number of applications, superior performance and new environmentally friendly formulations will help these products remain an important part of the product mix going forward.

Construction markets to experience fastest gains

Construction and electrical and electronic applications were the leading markets for flame retardants in 2011, each accounting for about one-fourth of overall demand. Faster gains are expected for construction products, fueled by the recovery of the markets in North America and Western Europe and increasing flammability standards in the developing world. Wire and cable, for both communications and power transmission, will expand along with new construction, generating demand for flame retardant products. Demand in motor vehicle applications will also exhibit improvement due to the rebound in motor vehicle output in North America, Western Europe, and Japan and continued growth in developing countries. The increasing use of plastics in vehicles provides additional opportunities for flame retardant demand.

Asia/Pacific region to retain market dominance

The Asia/Pacific region will continue to be the largest and fastest-growing market for flame retardants through 2016, accounting for more than half of global demand. Advances will be fueled by over eight percent annual growth in the large Chinese market, rapid development in less developed countries such as India and Thailand, and solid growth for electronics producers such as South Korea and Taiwan. Gains in North America will reflect Mexico’s growing importance as a producer of electronics and other consumer goods for the American markets, and the recovery of building construction in the US. Western Europe will see a rebound from the declining demand of the 2006-2011 period, although financial uncertainty will restrain growth in flame retardant outlets such as construction and motor vehicle production.

Source : http://www.reportbuyer.com

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Workshop on ‘Nanoparticles for flame retardancy: challenges and risks’

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

The Workshop on ‘Nanoparticles for flame retardancy: challenges and risks’ will be organized on May 16, 2013, within the COST Action MP1105 “Sustainable flame retardancy for textiles and related materials based on nanoparticles substituting conventional chemicals” (FLARETEX, http://www.flaretex.eu )

The Workshop is an essential part of the “5th International Seminar on Modern Polymeric Materials for Environmental Applications – MPM2013” (http://www.mpm2013.pl/) organized at the Department of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Cracow University of Technology, Poland.

The aim of the Workshop is to discuss how nanoparticles can improve the fire retarding performance of polymeric materials. It is already known that nanomaterials could be used in relatively low quantities and, additionally, they could be coupled with low amounts of traditional flame retardants to exploit significant synergistic effects. By optimizing nanoparticles for flame retardancy, the problems of toxicity, safety and environmental impact can be tackled in novel and innovative ways. This Workshop shall contribute to these issues.

workshop program: click here

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New patent: Flame retardant composites

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Henri VAHABI
United States Patent 8394880
Abstract:
A flame retardant polymer composite is disclosed. The composite includes a polymer base material and a flame retardant filler provided in the polymer base material, the flame retardant filler containing seeded boehmite particulate material having an aspect ratio of not less than 3:1.

pdf format: click here

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Update on Deca-BDE under REACH

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

On 19 December 2012, ECHA announced the inclusion amongst 54 substances of the flame retardant Deca-BDE in the Candidate List of SVHC substances for Authorisation under REACH. This follows the submission of an Annex XV proposal by the UK, which concluded that Deca-BDE meets the criteria in Annex XIII of REACH because of PBT/vPvB properties of its potential degradation products.

As is the standard requirement under REACH, six months after inclusion in the Candidate List producers and importers of articles must notify the ECHA if Deca-BDE is present in their articles in quantities totalling over one tonne per producer or importer per year and above a concentration of 0.1 % weight by weight (w/w). Importantly, this notification requirement will not apply in those circumstances where the specific use of Deca-BDE in the articles has already been included in the registration dossier of Deca-BDE…. Read More: clik here

Source: http://www.cefic-efra.com

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Leaching of halogen free and brominated flame retardants from plastics

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Henri VAHABI
This study will be presented in ” Sixth International Symposium On Flame Retardants” April 7-10, 2013, San Francisco, California.
Information about the production, distribution and consumption of flame retardants in electric and electronic (E&E) equipment (plastics) is well described. However, there is a knowledge gap in the amount of flame retardants leaching from plastics of electric and electronic (E&E) equipment to the environment. In the EU funded project ENFIRO, halogen free flame retardants (HFFR) are studied that are viable alternatives to specific commercial brominated flame retardants (BFR). Leaching studies of BFRs from different types of plastics have been described in literature, however, limited information on leaching of HFFRs is available
 ENFIRO studied15 HFFRs of which 6 are metal-based. Metal-based flame retardants are stable in plastic (polymer) products, but can leach, dissociate and enter the environment. Monitoring of the fate of metal-based HFFRs in the environment is difficult as metals can have various sources of emission. Leaching tests of HFFRs from plastics is an alternative method that may contribute to the exposure and risks assessment and understanding of the fate of HFFRs in the environment. The current study shows leaching properties of different HFFRs from polymers incomparison with BFRs. Thereby, the influences of pellets vs. moulded plates and pH on the leaching properties are studied. Two types of leaching protocols were tested. The TLCP protocol, from the US EPA, using worse-case leaching conditions (low pH) to simulate a municipal waste landfill, and studied if waste has toxic characteristics and is hazardous.
The second protocol (DIN 38414-S4) determines leaching by water (neutral pH), and has been widely used for regulatory purposes in Europe. We show that no differences in leaching properties between the DIN and TCLP methods for two metal-based PBT pellets were found. However, higherleaching rate coefficients of HFFRs from PBT pellets than PBT moulded plates were found, which is probably a
result of the differences in surface: volume ratio and the porosity of the materials. Also the influences ofnanoclay on the leaching behavior of the HFFRs have been studied.
More information : pdf format

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