additives feature | Flame retardants
helping to improve FR properties and processability. Work is also underway to reduce moisture uptake and
increase the dimensional stability of FRs. These proper- ties are important in thin-wall electrical parts used in humid environments. An example is the new Technyl XA1426, which is extending PA use by reducing moisture uptake 40% in a 30% glass-reinforced UL94 V-0 grade. BASF recently added Ultramid A3U40 G5, a 25%
glass-filled PA 66, which achieves a V-0 rating at 0.4 mm wall thickness and is glow wire-certified. Devel- oped for household appliances, connectors, low-voltage switchgear and railway applications, it has high flow, can be fabricated in complex shapes, and exhibits low smoke toxicity and density. Also new is Ultramid B3U30G6, a 30% glass-filled PA
Clariant has doubled Exolit FR capacity at its Hürth-
Knapsack plant to meet burgeoning demand for non-halogenat- ed products
comes to flame retardant additive use in products.” “Green is reality,” Mitchell adds, noting that
European initiatives such as RoHS (restrictions on hazardous substances) and other standards are enforced in much of the world. One coming trend will be development of FR
additives for recycled PA resins. Mitchell and others report that customers are asking about reclaim as a matter of sustainability, and Rhodia and other resin producers say they are working with formulations that incorporate some recycled PA. But there are challeng- es. One is getting FRs certified for use with recyclate; another is assuring the integrity of reclaimed resins. “We can source recycled materials,” Mitchell remarks, “but contaminants and UL certification are problems.” Suppliers are commercializing FRs that meet demands for improved performance, stability and processability. Following are representative examples, all non-halogenated. Rhodia is working on polymer technologies that
significantly reduce FR loadings to enhance processing and mechanical performance of PAs. One example is the new Technyl alloy AT20 V25, based on red phospho- rus, which substantially reduces FR concentration while
6 for similar applications and miniature circuit break- ers, which are popular in Europe. It has high modulus (similar to PA 66), is compatible with light colours, and achieves UL94 V-2 at 0.8 mm. Invista formally launched an FR portfolio in October
at Fakuma in Germany. Based on its proprietary Torzen Marathon process technology, the materials reportedly provide 30°C higher continuous-use temperature than conventional PA 66 resins and 40-50% greater flow. DSM recently launched Stanyl grades SC50 and
MC50. Target markets include integrated and miniature electronics. Both are glass-reinforced. Grade SC50 has a UL94 V-0 rating, and MC50 is UL94 V-2. The materials have high-flow properties, thin-wall strength, and meet glow wire ignition temperature requirements. On the additives front, Clariant has been investing to
meet the fast growing demand for its Exolit OP non- halogenated organo-phosphorous flame retardants which are used in PA formulations. In October, the company opened a second production line for the additive at its plant at Hürth-Knapsack near Cologne in Germany. The new line doubles the site’s total capacity for FRs based on DEPAL (diethyl phosphinic acid aluminium salt). The company says that the expansion was driven by
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