BYK, pinfa member company and chemicals producer since 1873, offers clays, processed from natural mined montmorillonite (aluminium silicate) clays, as performance mineral synergists to PIN flame retardants.
In fire cables, the clay acts in synergy with mineral flame retardants such as MDH (magnesium di hydroxide) or ATH (aluminium tri hydrate) generates highly stable char, reducing the total filler loading needed: for example from 65% filler to 55% plus 3% clay to achieve UL94-V0. This improves both processing and material properties. The products are compatible with the reduced smoke, low smoke toxicity offered by mineral PIN FRs. Since 2016, BYK offers also concentrates, both combinations of PIN FRs and masterbatches of PIN FR package with polymer. BYK sees the cables market as continuing to expand demand for PIN FR solutions, because of fire safety requirements and the replacements of PVC by low smoke emission and low smoke toxicity materials. New applications for montmorillonite mineral PIN FR synergists are also anticipated in construction and engineering polymers, with a continuing trend to combine different PIN FRs and synergists to offer optimal fire and material performance.
BYK https://www.byk.com “ALTANA Expands its Additive Business through Acquisition of Dutch Company Addcomp”, 4 July 2016 http://www.altana.com.es/prensa-y-noticias/press-news.html?no_cache=1&newsID=3995 “CLOISITE Nanocomposite Additive for Halogen-free Flame Retardants” https://www.byk.com/fileadmin/byk/additives/product_groups/rheology/former_rockwood_additives/technical_brochures/BYK_B-RI10_CLOISITE_EN.pdf