NEWS
Pinfa-NA Formulators’ Workshop
The full programme of the pinfa-NA SPE (Society of Plastics Engineers) online formulators’ training is now published. The four workshop sessions are led by expert instructors, with possibilities to ask questions and dialogue.
READ MORESAMPE – Webinar on transportation composites
Summary of pinfa-NA – SAMPE online event on new challenges for materials fire safety in aircraft. Event page: https://www.naSAMPE.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1496426
READ MOREUL furniture fire safety & chemicals guide
New UL Guide provides detailed information on fire risks, fire protection and flame retardants for upholstered furniture. “Managing Fire and Chemical Exposure Risks of Residential Upholstered Furniture” provides over 40 pages of detailed information (over 110 references) on fire risks of upholstered furniture in the home, flame retardants used in furniture, risk and exposure, fire tests and solutions for fire safety including inherently low flammability textiles and fillings, flame retardants and active and passive fire barriers.
READ MOREECHA publishes CoRAP to 2023
EU chemicals action plan includes eight active evaluations of halogenated FRs or their synergists and four of PIN FRs. The European Chemicals Agency, ECHA, has published the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) update 2021-2023, listing chemicals for Evaluation (under REACH) during this period. In total, the CoRAP evaluation list now contains 392 chemicals, including the following flame retardants
READ MOREEcolabel / GPP for photovoltaic systems
EU (JRC) report on PV notes the need for fire safety of cables and panel backings and the availability of acceptable PIN FRs. The European Commission (JRC) preparatory report on possible Ecolabel and/or Green Public Purchasing criteria for photovoltaics notes that some existing warranty systems require fire classification of cables and panel backings and reporting of halogen content, and that FRs are relevant for internal electrical components for inverters and junction boxes.
READ MOREBuildings ‘Renovation Wave’ consultation
An EU public consultation on revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is open to 22nd June 2021. The general public consultation poses questions on energy requirements for buildings, covering residential and other buildings, for new buildings and existing buildings and for building renovation, including the “whole life-cycle” performance.
READ MOREPIN FR polyamides for electronics
Thermoplastics specialist STS Tecnopolimeri uses DOMO PIN FR polyamides for performance household and electrical parts. The versatile non-halogen, melamine-based PIN FR polyamide PA6 and PA66 products offer mechanical and electrical properties enabling metal replacement and use in applications such as electronics casings, keyboards, displays, command boxes developed for the internet of things (IoT).
READ MORESABIC PIN FR solutions for EV batteries
PIN FR compounds offer new lightweight, high performance solutions for EV battery structural elements. SABIC offers an extensive performance materials range to replace metals and optimise electric vehicle batteries and supply equipment (EVSE) with reduced weight and flexible design possibilities, whilst ensuring crash and impact resistance, non-halogenated fire safety and enabling potential cost-effectiveness and high productivity.
READ MORELow-smoke, halogen-free polyolefin cable
Benvic, a world leader in PVC compounds, has launched HFFR polyolefin cables for construction and electrical industries. The new LINKFLEX HF compounds for cables and sheathing ensure compliance with the EU Construction Product Regulations (CPR) EN 50575 Eca up to B2ca, with low droplets, using PIN flame retardants in a polyolefin matrix to ensure low smoke properties, IEC 60754-2 low acidity emissions.
READ MOREWAPOL: PIN FRs from waste materials
EU project develops PIN FR compounds using waste incineration ash and nitrogen FRs for PP, PA (polypropylene, polyamide). The Horizon 2020 (EIT Raw Materials) project, WAPOL, is developing flame retarded polymers for the automotive industries using PIN FRs from waste materials. PP filled with 20-30% municipal waste incineration ash (treated bottom ash) achieved UL94HB @ 1.6 mm with mechanical properties similar to those of PP-T20.
READ MOREPerformance PC/ABS and PC/ASA
Polymer Compounders Ltd (PCL) new polycarbonate blend compounds show excellent properties and low toxicity. Established in 1993, PCL specialises in engineering thermoplastics. Their new PC/ABS* and PC/ASA* blends claim better melt processing, lower density and physical properties as good as halogen FR compounds, but use reactive non-halogenated FR polymer formulations to ensure a favourable toxicity profile, no antimony, no FR migration and no bioaccumulation.
READ MOREMetal alginates as PIN flame retardants
Alginates loaded with metal ions can provide effective bio-based PIN FRs for textiles, polymers, surface coatings …. Tens of thousands of tonnes of alginates are produced worldwide annually from brown algae, providing relatively low-cost bio-based materials which are not competing with food crops.
READ MOREBio-based PIN FR for cotton
The natural molecule polylysine, reacted with phosphoric acid, provides a durable PIN FR for cotton fabrics. The polypeptide ε polylysine can be produced by natural fermentation or by a condensation reaction of the biological amino acid lysine, and is used as a food additive.
READ MORE“Green” synthesis of PIN FR for bioplastic
Researchers propose solvent-free synthesis of polymeric phosphorus FR for poly(lactic acid) bioplastic (PLA). The bio-based and biodegradable polymer poly(lactic acid) is highly flammable. Phosphoramides have shown to be effective PIN FRs for PLA at low loadings, but their synthesis relies on organic solvents.
READ MOREDouble FR functionality of phosphorus
An experimental P-based PIN FR for rigid polyurethane foam shows both gas phase and solid phase fire inhibition effects. Researchers synthesised (in two steps) a bi-functional, reactive phosphorus flame retardant for rigid polyurethane foam: PDEP, containing a DOPO and a phosphate (DEP, derived from diethyl phosphite).
READ MOREN-P-Si FR for epoxy
Experimental reactive PIN FR improves mechanical and fire performance of epoxy resin. DOPO (phosphorus) and triethylamine (nitrogen) were reacted with silane (silicon) to generate an N-P-phenylsiloxane macromolecule (PD-PPD) which could be reacted into DGEBA epoxy resin.
READ MOREUK consults on POP ban for Dechlorane Plus.
UK consults on POP ban for Dechlorane Plus. The UK Government has opened to 18th June 2021 a public consultation on adding the halogenated flame retardant Dechlorane Plus to the Stockholm Convention list of Persistent Organic Pollutants.
READ MOREOther news
Endocrine (EDC) effects of “replacement” FRs. Experimental data and endocrine modelling results were collected for 52 flame retardants considered to be possible replacement of brominated PBDE and HBCD FRs.
READ MORENew tool to teach fire safety and FRs
80+ slides of information and graphics explaining materials fire safety, flame retardants, fire tests, standards, environment and health.
READ MOREUS EPA consultation on Deca, HBCD, TIPPP
Public comment is requested on rules to reduce exposure to PBT chemicals including three FRs: Deca-BDE, HBCD, TIPPP.
READ MOREUnlimited fines for fire safety regulations
The UK Government has announced unlimited fines for breaching fire safety orders or obstructing fire inspectors.
READ MORESustainable Products Initiative consultation
EU public consultation to 9th June 2021 on the Sustainable Products Initiative, targeting mainly recycling and reuse.
READ MOREReview on flame retarding of batteries
Fire and thermal runaway risks of lithium ion batteries can be reduced by using PIN FRs in separators, electrolyte, cathode.
READ MOREReview on fire safety of battery separators
Flame retardant separators are important to prevent or limit lithium ion battery fires and thermal runaway.
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