Polymers are macromolecules which are fundamentally made from Carbon and Hydrogen atoms, making them highly flammable. These materials have become ubiquitous and are now being utilised in more applications than ever before. Applications extend to areas where there might be chances of exposure to fire. It is in this scenario that we need to protect the plastics from burning. Flame retardant properties can be achieved with the help of different types of additives.
| Testing Standard | Rating | Methodology |
|---|---|---|
| UL94 | 5VA | This is the most stringent flammability rating. Burning should stop within 60 s of multiple flame applications, specimen burning through is not permitted |
| UL94 | 5VB | Burning should stop within 60 s of multiple flame applications; specimen burning though is permitted |
| UL94 | V-0 | Vertical burning should stop within 10 s after flame applications; no dripping flame particles permitted |
| UL94 | V-1 | Vertical burning should stop within 60 s after flame applications; no dripping flame particles permitted |
| UL94 | V-2 | Vertical burning should stop within 60 s after flame applications; dripping flame particles permitted |
| UL94 | H-B | Horizontal burning on 3-mm sample at, 76 mm/min for 127 mm length |
| Glow wire flammability index (IEC 60695-2-12) | Temperature | Sample specimen is held against a heated wire to determine the temperature at which the material shows no flame or glowing 30 s after the wire has been removed |
| Glow wire ignition temperature (IEC 60695- 2-13) | Temperature | Sample specimen is held against a heated wire to determine the temperature at which the sample does not ignite within 30 s of exposure |
| FMVSS 302 | Pass/fail | Sample specimen (held horizontally) is exposed to gas flame in a closed test chamber; The rate of burning and the distance burnt are measured |
| DIN 4102-1 | B2 | Sample specimen (held vertically) is exposed to gas flame inside test chamber; flame propagation and dripping flame particles are recorded |
A lot of factors such as mechanical properties, reaction between ingredients, water removal, processing/compounding temperatures, melt strength etc. need to be carefully considered before formulating a Flame Retardant compound. You can leave all the formulation worries to us and focus on your application. We are suppliers/manufacturers/exporters of high quality halogenated and non-halogenated Flame Retardant compounds and masterbatches in India and abroad. Contact us to collaborate with you on your project today.
Polymers are derived from fossil fuels and hence are highly flammable. This characteristic tends to restrict their usage significantly in certain markets and applications. This has led to the development of Flame retardant (FR) materials, which are materials which drastically reduce the flammability of the material and help prevent the spread of the fire.
Yes. With the use of the right additives, base polymers (PP, PE, ABS, Nylon etc.) can be made Flame retardant. A1 Impex can supply these additives in the form of dry blend, masterbatches or as a finished compound.
FR materials can be processed using different techniques such as extrusion, injection molding, spray coating etc. However, it is important to be careful with the processing of this material as these are thermally sensitive compounds which are designed to degrade beyond a certain temperature. A1 Impex will guide you to conveniently process these materials using the optimum conditions.
Every polymer is made from a different monomer. Hence, it is not possible to have a one size fits all solution. Each formulation is carefully designed keeping in mind the chemistry of the base polymer and is optimized to achieve flame retardancy. A1 Impex discusses the project in great detail to clearly understand the project requirements and then presents a tailor made solution to ensure seamless execution.
FR materials are tested according to different standards. Amongst the most popular standards are UL94 V0, V1, V2, HB, EN 45545-2, FMVS 302 etc. Depending on the application and regulatory requirements, each formulation needs to be tailored to hit the required listing goals.
Flame retardants are broadly divided into two categories, Halogenated and Non-Halogenated. Halogenated flame retardants as the name suggests are mainly based on Halogens (Bromine, Chlorine etc.). These are very efficient even at low concentrations and have been used for a very long time. However lately there have been concerns with respect to their impact on the environment as they generate toxic smoke upon burning. This has led to extensive adoption of non-halogenated flame retardants, based on Phosphorous and Nitrogen chemistry, as they are comparatively a lot more eco-friendly. A1 Impex offers an extensive range of non-halogenated Flame retardants for various polymers and listings.
