Flame Retardant Polymer

Fire safety has become a major issue due to the ubiquitous use of polymers. The development of flame retardant polymer materials has thus experienced tremendous growth in market size. Alfa Chemistry is committed to providing customers with high-quality flame retardant polymer materials, including but not limited to PP, PA, PC, ABS, PBT, etc. with flame retardant properties.

Flame Retardant Polymers We Offer

Below are some of our flame retardant polymer materials:

• Polypropylene (PP)
• Nylon or Polyamide (PA)
• Polycarbonate (PC)
• Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
• Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)
• Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Alloy (PC/ABS)
• Polycarbonate/Acrylic Alloy (PC/PMMA)
• Thermoplastic Vulcanizate Elastomers (TPV)

Polymer Flame Retardant Grade

The flammability UL94 rating is the most widely used standard for the flammability performance of plastic materials, which is used to evaluate the ability of a material to extinguish after being ignited. The flame retardant grade of plastic increases gradually from HB, V-2, V-1 to V-0. The following table is for reference. In addition, the flame retardant grades higher than the V-0 grade are 5V, 5VB, and 5VA.

Flame Retardant Actions

During the combustion of flame retardant polymers, FR decomposes, with several possible action scenarios in the condensed and/or gas phase summarized in the figure below. The action of flame retardants depends on their chemical properties and their interaction with the polymer matrix.

In the condensed phase, possible roles include: changing the decomposition pathway of the polymer to produce less combustible volatile and more char; forming a barrier or protective layer on the polymer surface, acting as a cooling and droplet effect.

In the gas phase, two types of flame retardancy can be obtained. First, the inert gases released inside the flame during combustion dilute the combustible gas. Second, the free radicals formed by the decomposition of flame retardants trap high-energy free radicals and inhibit the spread of fire. [1]

Possible mechanisms of action of flame retardants [1]

Typical Application

The presence of polymers with flame retardant properties in the following areas continues to grow in market demand.

• Electronic Appliances

Halogen-free organic phosphorus flame retardants such as BDP and RDP have good compatibility with engineering plastics such as PC/ABS, and have the advantages of good environmental protection performance, high thermal stability, and little impact on material properties. Therefore, it is widely used in electronic and electrical equipment such as mobile phones, notebook computers, and televisions.

• New Energy Vehicles

The application of engineering plastics in electric vehicles can be divided into four categories, including power batteries, charging piles, body and functional parts, and power electronic devices, covering more than 20 types of specific parts.

Reference

1. Henri Vahabi, et al. (2021). "Flame retardant polymer materials: An update and the future for 3D printing developments," Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports 144, 100604.