News

Less than 10% PIN FR loading, plus a chain extender, enabled production of quality PET foam from post-consumer bottles.

Eight organophosphate esthers (OPEs), used as plasticisers and/or flame retardants, were tested in 393 food product samples in the UK: TCEP, TCIPP, TDCIPP, TBOEP, TnBP, TPHP, EHDPP, TMPP.

The National Week of Flame Retardants, organised online by SPE (Society of Plastics Engineers) and pinfa-NA attracted over one hundred participants for five online sessions 22nd – 26th August.

Roger Avakian, Avakian Polychem Consulting, provided a one hour introduction to polymer fire safety,

This SPE event included a session of PIN FR product presentations by pinfa-NA members, showing a range of different PIN FR solutions able to achieve high levels of fire performance in many different polymers

Tim Reilly, Clariant, summarised regulatory developments in the USA, underlining that this is largely driven by NGOs, often via political action in one or a few States.

Sabyaschi Gaan, EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), outlined developments in recycling of FR thermoplastics and thermosets.

Yiming Zhang, Case Western Reserve University, discussed possible alternatives to PTFE to prevent melt-drip.

Kari Ingalls, Tidal Vision, presented the company’s chitosan products, sourced from seafood processing wastes

One side of the 42-storey China Telecom building rapidly engulfed in flame in presumed façade cladding fire.

The European Commission and Council have outlined the need for increased wildfire action in the face of climate change risks.

Fire resistant publication of Margaret Atwood’s book is a protect against book-burning, censorship and anti-abortion.

23 people died in a nightclub fire in Thailand, with flammable foam blamed for the rapid fire spread.

Vancouver City fire services say lithium ion batteries have caused 5 fire deaths this year with battery fires are increasing.

Biden-Harris administration launches action to modernise and implement building safety and energy codes across the US.

Combustible cladding is banned on high rise buildings and non FR polyethylene composite panels on all new buildings.

New South Wales Australia shows nearly 44 000 residential fires in ten years, with higher incidence in social housing.

AXA UK warns of increasing fire risks from lithium-ion batteries in electric bicycles and e-scooters. 

Overview of battery fire risks, flame retardant solutions and technology perspectives. 60 pages. 125 references.

Evaluation concludes cyclic aliphatic bromide FR chemicals present unreasonable risk for health and the environment.

Report for Business Finland lists 25 problematic or potentially problematic (under assessment) flame retardants, of which 21 are halogenated FRs and four are organophosphorus FRs

Call for abstracts for leading flame retardant research conference Fire Retardant Polymeric Materials is now open.

Public consultation open to 16/12/2022 asks whether to develop Ecodesign for PV panels. Safety is not mentioned.

pinfa publishes report on possible property-based REACH regulatory grouping of organophosphorus flame retardants.