PolyOne Introduces New Non-Halogen Flame-Retardant TPEs for Appliance Wire Applications

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers unveiled OnFlex™ AW, a new line of non-halogen flame-retardant TPEs for the appliance industry. These new wire and cable insulation and jacketing specialty materials help support appliance manufacturers’ sustainability goals by combining outstanding physical performance with an eco-conscious solution that enables reduced material usage and lighter weight.

“Our new OnFlex formulation helps our customers advance sustainability with a non-halogen material that meetsstrict regulatory requirements and helps to optimize product design and manufacturability,” said Charles Page, director of global marketing, PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers.

OnFlex™ AW helps simplify multi-wire assembly and construction and reduces jacket / insulation diameter significantly compared to traditional materials. This reduction enables manufacturers to produce wires and cables that require less space, use less material and can be up to 65 percent lighter – saving energy in shipment. Size reduction also expedites processing, enabling faster, easier extrusion. OnFlex AW features enhanced mechanical properties and improved dielectric strength, with a bend radius of 6 to 8x. It is rated for up to 1 million flex cycles and the new material can also withstand temperature extremes ranging from -50°C to 105°C.

This new TPE formulation also complies with the requirements of the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals(REACH) directives.OnFlex AW can be used in 300V and 600V appliance hook-up wire constructions that meet stringent UL 758 requirements for tensile strength and elongation.

Source: www.noodls.com

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NANOFRABS “Halogen free flame retardant ABS nanocomposites”

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives discouraged the use of halogenated flame retardants in electric and electronic devices. For this reason, effective non halogenated alternatives have to be developed. NANOFRABS project aims, developing new halogen free flame retardant (HFFR) for ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) compounds, which are widely used in the electric appliances sector, with good impact and fire properties.

The focus is to develop a new more effective flame retardant for ABS, based on an intumescent formulation, by means of incorporation of nanofillers, enhancing both fire retardancy and mechanical properties. This will lead to the formation of a thermally and mechanically reinforced intumescent charred layer in event of fire as well as a mechanical reinforcement during the life of the product.

In order to reach these improvements, nanofillers will be combined with phosphorous-based flame retardants, either a) by Physical Combination of flame retardants and nanofillers in proper mixtures (PC), b) by Chemical Combination of nanofillers with flame retardants (CC) or c) by Physical Combination of Chemical functionalized lamellas and flame retardants (PCC) to be dispersed in the polymer by melt blending or melt reactive blending.

NANOFRABS project, supported by the European Commission FP7 program… Read more: click here

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Influence of microencapsulated APP-I on microstructure and flame retardancy of PP/APP-I/PER composites

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

Article first published online: 3 NOV 2012 in Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Abstract

In this article, the microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate crystalline with form I (APP-I) coated with melamine-formaldehyde (MF) was prepared by in situ polymerization. Results of Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG) energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrate that APP-I is successfully microencapsulated with MF. Compared with APP-I, the microencapsulated APP-I with MF (MFAPP-I) is of much smaller spheroidal particle size and lower solubility in water. In this study, the polypropylene (PP)/APP-I/penpaerythritol (PER) and PP/MFAPP-I/PER composites are prepared, and flame retardancy, thermal stability, and microstructure of corresponding composites are carefully investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 testing, TG, EDS, and SEM. Experimental results show that PP/MFAPP-I/PER composites have advantages over PP/APP-I/PER composites in terms of flame retardant properties and water resistance. Results of TG, SEM, and EDS show that the microencapsulated APP-I with MF resin is conducive to increase the amount of residual yield and improve thermal stability of PP/MFAPP-I/PER composites and the compatibility and dispersion of MFAPP-I. Read more…

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European Annual Progress Report 2012: VECAP

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

VECAP aims to reduce the potential for emissions of flame retardants by raising awareness of responsible substance management and by promoting environmental best practice, from producers to downstream users, in the workplace. Although this programme does not deal with potential emissions during the service life of products or after their disposal, the flame retardant industry is actively involved in end-of-life issues management…read more: click here

Highlights of 2012 report:

– Reduction of potential emissions for the three main brominated flame retardants, according to survey results from the last 5 years
– 93% of the volume sold by EFRA member companies covered by the programme
– Increased coverage for HBCD and further reduction of potential emissions to air and land
– TBBPA potential emissions remained consistent at the lowest achievable level
– 11 manufacturing and user sites now certified globally
– CEFIC awarded a commendation to the VECAP programme
– Everkem, an importer of flame retardants, joined the programme

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

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Analysis of flame retardant additives in polymer fractions of waste of WEEE

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

An HPLC–UV/MS method has been developed to identify and quantify flame retardants in post-consumer plastics from waste of electric and electronic equipment (WEEE). Atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation spectra of 15 brominated and phosphate-based flame retardants were recorded and interpreted. The method was applied to detect flame retardant additives in polymer extracts obtained  from pressurised liquid extraction of solid polymers. In addition, a screening method was developed for soluble styrene polymers to isolate a flame retardant fraction through the application of gel permeation chromatography (GPC). This fraction was transferred to an online-coupled HPLC column and detected by UV spectroscopy, which allowed a reliable qualitative and quantitative analysis of brominated flame retardants in the polymer solutions.

Download pdf format: click here

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FIRE TESTING AND FIRE REALITY: WHAT DO FIRE TESTS REALLY TELL US ABOUT MATERIALS?

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

Fire tests are a critical component used in the process of designing a fire safe environment. For example, how do you know the fire protection in a large storage facility for chemical oxidizers is sufficient? How do you test the fire safety of and recommend performance-based criteria for engine compartment and interior materials for the variety of passenger road vehicles? For example, fire modeling predicted that a high density polypropylene product would auto-ignite when exposed to a radiant heat source when, in suitable tests or real fires, the same object melted away from the heat source. Fire tests must be carefully developed and monitored to make sure they correspond to reality. Fire experimentalists are always concerned with real-world fire parameters in the development, execution and application of fire tests and fire test data. Ageing, scaling, calculations, fire modeling and cost all require careful consideration in developing, evaluating and communicating the advantages and limitations of data from laboratory tests with the real world. Where no reliable fire test data exists, evaluation of historical fires and preliminary bench scale test data are often better than no data. But in any case no one should rely unquestioningly on small scale tests.

This presentation (pdf format) will examine the challenges of fire testing and related progress in fire safety science.

pdf document

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Microencapsulated Ammonium Polyphosphate with Glycidyl methacrylate Shell: Application to Flame Retardant Epoxy resin

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Henri VAHABI

This article was published in Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.-March 28, 2013:

Abstract:

A new microcapsule containing Ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as core and shell material was synthesized by in situ polymerization technology. The structure and performance of microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (MCAPP) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Water contact angle (WCA). The flame retardation of MCAPP and APP flame retarded Epoxy resin (EP) composites were studied by Limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 test and Cone calorimeter. The results indicated that the microencapsulation of APP with the GMA leaded to an improvement of the hydrophobicity. Results also revealed that the flame retardancy of EP/MCAPP composite was better than that of the EP/APP composite at the same additive loading. Moreover, the EP/MCAPP demonstrated better thermal stability, due to the stable char forming by APP and GMA shell and the better dispersion of MCAPP in EP matrix.

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