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Orlen Unipetrol develops Makroflam® family of custom flame retardant masterbatches and compounds
Orlen Unipetrol offers custom-developed halogen-free flame retardant masterbatches and compounds for demanding plastics applications
Flame retardants provide enhanced safety in a growing number of technical plastics applications that require exposure to long-term elevated temperature or open flame. International flame retardance specifications are frequently supplemented by policies and criteria developed by manufacturing companies and/or national authorities. The result is that flammability criteria may vary according to the individual state or the final application — automotive parts, pipes, cables, building profiles and sheets, films or fibres and nonwovens. The most commonly-used flame
retardants remain halogenated types based on chlorinated and brominated organic derivatives. However, toxicological risks and increasing environmental concerns mean many manufacturers are looking to halogen- free alternatives, including organic substances based on nitrogen and phosphorus, metal hydrates, graphite, alkoxylated amines, inorganic hydroxides, acrylate copolyesters or organically modified fillers and nanoclays. Each offer specific flame-extinguishing effects and physical properties.
Halogen-free FRs Orlen Unipetrol’s non-flammable and flame retarded plastics are developed entirely on halogen-free concepts. Due to the very different requirements of individual customers, it develops custom rather than standardised flame retarded plastics and masterbatches. These are
Flame retardance testing of a Makroflam® sample at the Orlen Unipetrol laboratory part of the company’s Makroflam® brand,
which uses a range of 30 flame retardants. All function by creating intumescent porous layers, free gaseous radicals, or an endothermic reaction with water releasing effect. Each flame retardant gives the final
product different mechanical and thermal properties as well as processing behavior and natural weathering. During development of a new formulation, information about the expected flammability classification, flow properties during processing, type of processing technology, processing temperature, expected mechanical properties, visual appearance (colour, opacity or translucency), is considered in detail. Orlen Unipetrol’s laboratory is equipped to carry out accredited flammability testing according to the major international standards applicable to automotive, construction, electrical engineering, expanded and lightweight materials, thin wall packaging materials and textiles. Once laboratory scale development is complete, Makroflam® samples are validated by customer before series production is undertaken at Orlen Unipetrol’s Polymer Institute Brno.
Colouring options Makroflam®
series grades can be
coloured using color masterbatches from the company’s M-Color®
series or can be
supplied as a final coloured compound. The materials can also be combined with Makrostab®
and Makroplus®
UV and antioxidant stabilisers series additive
masterbatches containing nucleating agents, fillers, lubricants, antistatic agents, and chemical blowing agents. Dosage of Makroflam® flame retardant
masterbatches is determined by the flammability classification and other final properties but is typically in the range of 5 - 50% by weight. Makroflam®
flame
retardant compounds are designed for a single specific purpose. Further dilution is not recommended as the flame retardant component is blended at the minimum cost-saving level and any addition of other additives or polymers may result in non-compliance with the required specifications. Orlen Unipetrol focuses mainly on
polyolefin-based materials, but it can also offer flame retarded masterbatches and compounds based on PS, ABS, PC/ABS, polyamides, PBT, bio-copolyesters, POM, and other polymers.
To discover more about Orlen Unipetrol’s Makroflam® masterbatches and compounds visit
Orlenpolymer.cz/en
IMAGE: ORLEN UNIPETROL
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