Flame retardants are chemical additives used in a variety of applications to inhibit and slow down the ignition of flames. They also play a crucial role in preventing the formation of smoke and the release of toxic substances, all of which are important safety aspects in both industrial, public and domestic environments, allowing for an increase in escape time in the event of fire spreading. Together with Ugo Zucchelli (Italmatch Chemicals Global Sales and Technical Assistance Manager Plastic Additives) we look at the main aspects to consider when selecting a flame retardant additive and the benefits of Phosphorus-based chemicals in the fire safety field.
What do you recommend when selecting a flame retardant additive?
When considering a flame retardant additive or product family, it is not a single property that is important, but several considerations:
- Processing behaviour
- Flame retardant effect
- Smoke toxicity
- Migration and ageing
- Recycling
- Chemical physical, electrical and mechanical properties imparted
- Directives and standards applied
- Toxicity profile
- And, finally, availability and cost
Many decades of research and industrial practice have shown that Phosphorus–based chemicals are overall the best class of materials for flame retardants, alone or in combination with other synergistic halogen–free or halogen-based materials. Thanks to its long-term experience in the Phosphorus-based specialty chemicals field, Italmatch Chemicals offers a wide portfolio of proprietary Phosphorus-based halogen-free flame retardants for thermoplastic and thermoset polymers.
Can you tell us more about Phosphorus and its fire safety properties?
Phosphorus exists in several forms, which in chemical terms are defined as five different “oxidation states”. In addition, Phosphorous-based molecules exist as single units or linked in a chain to give polymeric structures. Therefore, flame retardants based on Phosphorus belong to 5 different product families:
- Phosphate esters
- Phosphonates
- Phosphinates
- Polyphosphates
- Inorganic Phosphorus
Within these 5 different classes, the percentage of Phosphorus increase progressively. This increase in P-content is generally associated with a higher flame retardancy. Italmatch Chemicals is the worldwide leader for inorganic Phosphorus-based compounds (red phosphorus & inorganic phosphinates), which have the higher Phosphorus percentage, and thus effectiveness, within the 5 product families.
What are the benefits of Italmatch Chemicals Phosphorus-based flame retardants compared to other FR additives?
Compared to traditional flame retardants, which were based on Bromine or sometime Chlorine most often used in conjunction with Antimony Trioxide, Phosphorus-based compounds do not contain Halogen. This means that these flame retardants do not release any dangerous gases that can be harmful to people and the environment in case of ignition. Moreover, red phosphorus and inorganic phosphinates have a very favorable toxicological profile not harmful to humans or the environment.
For this reason, non-halogenated flame retardants based on Phosphorus are much more sustainable. Furthermore, recent years’ developments allowed Halogen-Free Flame Retardants to be much more competitive and cost effective than in the past.
What are Italmatch Flame Retardants portfolio applications?
Italmatch additives are used in a wide range of polymers, for instance:
- Polyolefins (especially Polypropylene)
- Polycarbonate
- Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU)
- Polyesters
- Polyamides
- Epoxy, polyurethanes and rubbers
The main end-use applications for Italmatch flame retardant additives include:
- Stadium and theatres seats in buildings
- Electrical switches and electronic equipment’s
- Corrugated and wastewater pipes
- Air duct profiles and air conditioning in ventilation systems
- Films for industrial packaging and Fibres (automotive and buildings carpets)
Is it possible to ask for a more detailed consultation about these topics?
Of course it is! Anyone interested in finding out more about our portfolio and how to increase their flame retardancy in a sustainable and cost-effective way can get in touch with our experts using the form below. We look forward to hearing your requirements and discuss more in detail on how we can help you with your fire safety challenges:
Ugo Zucchelli graduated in Chemistry during the eighties in Ferrara University (Italy). He is a passionate customer-oriented innovator, internationally experienced in Marketing, Sales and Product Development in Plastics and Chemicals within multinational environments. Ugo joined Italmatch Chemicals in year 2006 as Business Developer for Flame Retardants. Today, he is responsible for Global Sales and Technical Assistance. He holds 25 Patents in the polymers additives field and some publications. He is fluent in French, English and Spanish.