Strytech Group Inc. - Blog

Flame Retardant Additives in Liquid Dispersion

Posted by Howard Neal on Sep 21, 2011 6:10:00 PM

In recent years, intumescent (non-halogenated)flame retardants have slowly began to replace the widely used halogenated products, antimony oxides and deca bromines. This replacement throughout many industries by the “green” technology has been accelerated with the antimony oxides and deca bromines having been declared hazardous and being eliminated from continued use, with timetables established for replacement deadlines.

The properties of our CFR series (liquid form), which can be viewed as the 2nd generation of the intumescent type products, have been shown to be even more cost effective in performance, as they are not generic formulations, but are formulated to fit a specific application.  The product line has formulations with a synergist or as a solo dispersion. 

 The manufacturer we represent has been able to conform the flame retardant additive formulation to the type of polymer being used. In the past, intumescent systems were applied to cover a wide range of polymers with limited results. The use of encapsulations, jet milling the particle size, and use of various synergists, etc. to target the end use for the customer have given these patent pending additives a performance advantage.

 It has been nearly impossible to disperse Ammonium phosphates and melamine salts to maintain dispersion, and unheard of to get various synergists into a one package system as well. Typically, the CFR series is comprised of four components:

 

1.)    An acid source which forms during the combustion, an impermeable semisolid layer essentially composed of polyphosphoric acid that activates the process of char formation.

2.) Macrostructure to decrease smoke density, improve heat distortion and recycling process, barrier properties and overall performance. 

3.)    A carbonization agent which is dehydrated by the acid released and forms an insulated cellular layer between the polymer and flame.

4.)    A blowing agent which expands to form a swollen multi cellular char by releasing nonflammable gas and form a glass type barrier to further repel the flame source.

 

The benefits of the above system over halogenated systems are as follows:

            * Low Smoke

            * Non Toxic Fumes

            * Suppresses Afterglow

            * Cost Savings

            * Excellent process ability

* Good retention of mechanical and electrical properties, especially over halogenated systems

* Good color ability

* Greatly improves LOI

When using our dispersions in intumescent paints and varnishes, whether water-based or solvent-based, they can be used on a wide variety of substrates.

Tags: flame retardant, cost savings, intumescent