FLAME RETARDANTS | INNOVATION
New formulations, co-polymers or oligomer forms, combination packages of PIN FRs or use of specific PIN synergists, will ensure that PIN FRs respond to demanding user specifications.” It should be said that PINFA’s perspective
contrasts with that of BSEF (the International Bromine Council) whose members include leading suppliers of brominated flame retardants. BSEF has lodged formal proceedings with the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg against the EC with respect to the new regulation on electronic displays. Keven Bradley, Secretary General of the BSEF, says it disagrees with the regulation’s “unprecedented and unwarranted restriction.” See the article on page 35 for more information on this.
Automotive drivers PIN FR additives producer Adeka sees automotive safety concerns driving interest forward. “Increas- ing safety awareness is driving expanded use of flame retarded materials,” the company says. “In automobiles, flame retarded materials have until recently only been used for interiors. For the next generation of automobiles, however, flame retarded materials are expected to be used for the entire propulsion system, including the various parts of battery construction in an EV. Less obvious but just as crucial, flame retarded materials are expected to be used for high voltage equipment including charging stations and electronic instru- ments for control and operation.” Flame retarded PC and PC alloys are being
considered for charging station housings for EVs, Adeka says. “Currently retardancy performance requires a UL94 V-0 classification at 1.6mm. The trend however is toward V-0 at 0.8 and even 0.4mm.” Bisphenol-A bis(diphenyl phosphate), otherwise known as BDP and which Adeka supplies as ADK Stab FP-600, and resorcinol bis(diphenyl phos- phate, or RDP, are both commonly used as flame retardants for PC and PC alloys. But Adeka says they have some limitations. “In order to meet the flame retardancy requirements at lower thickness, higher
Left: Car makers are facing flame retardant selection challenges, including compliance with new EV standards and regulations, calls for improved sustainability, and the need to avoid corrosion of electronic and electrical systems
Above: FRX Polymers’ Nofia can provide flame retardance in PC alloys without compromising car makers’ preferred piano black finish
loadings of the flame retardant will be required. The decrease of heat deflection temperature (HDT) accompanying this makes the flame retarded material unsuitable for certain applications.” To solve this problem, Adeka has developed a new liquid phosphate ester flame retardant — ADK Stab FP-900L — that it says combines higher flame retardancy and an improvement of HDT compared to market reference phosphate ester FR. The improved HDT comes from the combination of the reduced plasticising effect of the additive due to its more rigid oligomeric structure as well as the lower dosage levels required, the company says. In tests with a PC reinforced with 10% glass, ADK
Stab FP-900L dosed at 20% provided a V-0 classifi- cation at 0.8mm, whereas BDP could only achieve V-2. In a 30% reinforced sample, the same result was achieved at an FP-900L addition level of 15%. In both formulations, HDT was around 5o
C higher for
the compound based on the new flame retardant. Flame retardants for PC, as well as other thermo- plastic polyesters, are available from FRX Polymers. At last year’s K2019 trade show, the company introduced developments with its Nofia polymeric and reactive phosphonate products in applications for recycled PET (rPET) and in PET/PC and PBT/PC blends for medical applications. Updating on progress this October, Sales & Marketing VP Ina Jiang said PC/PBT blends have been receiving OEM approvals in medical and also automobile interior applications. She says that some customers have also carried out trials with PC/ABS and PC/ ASA blends, which have “an excellent overall balance of properties and exceptional processing.” In these blends, it has been possible to obtain V-0 ratings down to 0.75mm. “This is outstanding for a
18 COMPOUNDING WORLD | December 2020
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