NEWS
Numerical modelling of Grenfell fire – bis
Modelling study, funded by Kingspan, concludes tenability inside Grenfell flats was independent of insulating material. Kingspan is the manufacturer of one of the insulation cladding products which burnt in the Grenfell Tower fire.
READ MOREFire retardant coatings for wood and timber
The European Coatings webforum showed how PIN FRs enable safe use in buildings of the renewable material, wood. The webinar, hosted by Katrin Vogt, European Coatings Journal, brought together nearly...
READ MORESika Deutschland
Markus Wöhr, Sika Deutschland (soon to be a member of the Sherwin Williams group), explained that FR intumescent coatings combine a blowing agent, carbon source, catalyst, and a binder, and so generate a protective carbon char foam in case of fire.
READ MOREDemand for PIN FRs expected to grow
New market studies predict ongoing growth in global demand for flame retardants, especially PIN FRs, driven by fire safety, increased used of polymers and other flammable materials, and environmental and recycling requirements.
READ MOREPIN FR performance PPA for EVs and E&E
Solvay’s partially bio-based long-chain PPA achieves UL94 V-0 (at 0.4 mm) with processability, strength and stability. The non-halogenated flame retardant polyphthalamide formulations offer processing advantages of high glass transition temperature and melting point (Tg 135°C, Tm 315°C) adapted to non-blistering reflow soldered surface mount devices (SMD) and parts in cooling systems for power electronics or fluid connectors, and to production of miniaturised components
READ MOREInovia Materials ionic liquid PIN FRs
Ionic liquids as PIN FRs for a range of polymers, offering fire resistance and low impact on performance and processing. The ionic liquids, based on salts in which one ion has delocalised charge and one component is organic and biodegradable, contain phosphorus, nitrogen and sulphur, and afford structure design flexibility enabling performance in different polymers.
READ MOREBio-based FR is Dyson Awards finalist
A biopolymer extracted from seaweed wins University of Waterloo, Canada, place in James Dyson student Awards.
READ MOREReactive PIN FR for polyurethane foam
A reactive phosphorus – nitrogen PIN FR improved both fire performance and mechanical properties in flexible PUR foam. A complex dihydroxy P – N molecule 2- (( bis (2-hydroxyethyl) amino) methyl) -5,5-dimethyl -1,3,2-dioxaphosphinane 2-oxide (HAMPP) was synthetised in three reaction stages and tested in flexible polyurethane foam at 0 – 10% loading.
READ MOREPolyphosphoramide PIN FR for PLA
A polymeric phosphorus – nitrogen PIN FR was synthesised without using solvent achieving UL 94 V-0 in PLA at 2% loading. The polyphosphoramide DM-H was synthesised in a two-step, one-pot controlled condensation reaction, without solvents or catalysts, using HAD (1,6-hexanediamine) and DMMP (dimethyl methyl-phosphonate), resulting in an oligomer MW = 6 800 g/mol containing c. 7 -11 wt% N and 12 – 16 wt% P
READ MOREComparing PIN and halogenated FRs in PP
A novel PIN FR achieved fire and mechanical performance comparable to a brominated/antimony FR package. In polypropylene, a novel mono-constituent, intumescent PIN FR (PNP1D, combining phosphate ester, polyhydroxyl and melamine) was compared to DecaBDE or DecaBDE+HBCD (Br-FRs) with ATO (antimony trioxide).
READ MOREIntumescent PIN FRs for decorative wood
Fraunhofer WKI and DTNW Germany launch research into PIN FR intumescent coatings as safer alternative PIN FRs for wood surfaces in building construction.
READ MOREUS EPA concludes “unreasonable risks” to the environment and to workers from the brominated flame retardant HBCD
The updated and final Risk Assessment of hexabromocyclododecane and the cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD), published by the US Environmental Protection Agency on 29th December 2021, supersedes the use-specific no unreasonable risk determinations of the previous version (September 2020).
READ MOREStockholm Convention confirms Dechlorane Plus as POP and moves on to risk management and control
The 17th meeting of the POPs Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention adopted the Risk Profile of the halogenated flame retardant Dechlorane Plus, concluding that there is evidence for persistence, bioaccumulation and adverse effects on organisms and widespread environmental occurrence including in remote regions leading “to significant adverse human health and/or environmental effects such that global action is warranted”.
READ MOREOrganophosphorus FR metabolites detected in urban air
Metabolites of five OPFR (organophosphate ester flame retardants) TCEP, TCPP, TDCPP (chlorinated) and TBEP, TPhP (non-chlorinated) were analysed in samples of air from 18 megacities worldwide (Global Atmospheric Passive Sampling – Megacities programme).
READ MORELimited correlations between organophosphate esters and blood pressure in children and adolescents
A study of 1 194 persons aged 6 – 18 in Liuzhou, China, compared urinary levels of TCEP, BCIPHIPP, BDCIPP (chlorinated), DPHP, BBOEP, DoCP & DpCP (non-chlorinated) to systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
READ MOREPeter Mapleston, Compounding World and AMI
Peter Mapleston, Compounding World and AMI, closed the session, underlining the interest of the dialogue, enabled by this hybrid session, between flame retardant and materials industries, present at the Fire Retardants in Plastics Conference, and global experts and operators involved in fire safety and in new energy systems.
READ MOREAdrian Beard, Clariant
Adrian Beard, Clariant, and pinfa panel moderator, underlined that PIN flame retardants can ensure fire safety of materials used in batteries and in accompanying cables and electrical systems, and can also improve electrical safety by ensuring insulation (e.g. CTI performance to prevent arcing).
READ MOREKazuo Ninomiya, Asahi Kasei
Kazuo Ninomiya, Asahi Kasei, panellist for pinfa, noted that new regulations on battery fire safety are needed to drive development and deployment of high fire performance materials.
READ MORECorina Neumeister, Nabaltec
Corina Neumeister, Nabaltec, panellist for pinfa, noted that non-halogenated flame retardant solutions today exist for many energy applications, including for the specific performance and safety requirements of e.g. photovoltaics and electric vehicle charging systems, as well as for the specialist cables for these different systems.
READ MOREDirk Long, EPRI
Dirk Long, EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute), shared the ESA (Energy Storage Association) target of 100 GW of battery storage in the US electrical grid by 2030, to support grid resilience and roll-out of renewable production (PV, wind) and emphasised that safety is key to achieving this objective.
READ MOREYoon Ko, National Research Council Canada
Yoon Ko, National Research Council Canada, further outlined specific fire challenges related to PV installations in buildings. PV systems can ignite because of electrical faults, moisture ingress leading to short-circuits or overheating.
READ MOREAlexander Kuchner, CURRENTA Fire Technology
Alexander Kuchner, CURRENTA Fire Technology, presented the results of fire testing of photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs.
READ MOREEric Guillaume, Efectis
Eric Guillaume, Efectis, outlined specific fire risks of photovoltaic systems in buildings. The PV system itself can cause fires, through electrical faults, because of DC arcing, power mismatches with partial lighting, electrical faults in e.g. DC-AC inverters, or the PV system can be ignited by fires starting elsewhere.
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