Additives flame retardant suppliers

The contraction in plastics sales in 2002 was reflected in reduced sales of additives such as flame retardants. Suppliers faced severe difSculties, with many announcing job cuts. The Dow Jones Eurostoxx 50 index declined over a period of two and a half years by more than half from its peak value of over 5000 to less than 2500 by mid-2003. The year 2004 began more optimistically, but after an encouraging start the stock markets faltered again for a time in the summer and the Eurostoxx had still not reached 3000 by mid-autumn 2004. 

Reactive polyols which contain halogen groups, phosphorus, or both, are offered by a number of suppliers for flame-netardant urethane-foam applications. These materials can be used alone, or with other flame retardants as synergists. Although reactive flame retardants may appear to be more costly initially, in the long run they may be found to be less expensive than the additive types (31). 

Several manufacturers or suppliers of flame retardants have listed TGA weight-loss data to facilitate the selection of appropriate fire-retardant additives. These data are reported in Table II only for those additives with identifiable structures. 

Independent compounders supply custom and proprietary compounds or otherwise specialize in compounding filled/reinforced, color-matched, flame-retarding, antistatic, or masterbatch compounds. Compounding functions are also performed by primary resin suppliers, by additives or masterbatch suppliers, and by some large processors, internally or in-line with forming processes [2-16]. 

Additives encompass a wide range of substances that aid processing or add value to the final product [6,7]. Found in virtually all plastics, most additives are incorporated into a resin family by the supplier as part of a proprietary package. For example, you can choose standard PC resin grades with additives for improved internal mold release, UV stabilization, and flame retardance, or nylon grades with additives to improve impact performance. 

Chapter 6 reviews the supply chain and discusses the source of materials used by the resin suppliers and compounders. The market for flame retardant additives is discussed and some statistical data presented. 

A new type of intumescent additive is expandable graphite. This material has already found uses as a special effect pigment due to its metallic sheen and grey-black colour. Nord-Min has been developed by suppliers Nordmann Rassmann with flame retarding of plastics in mind. It is a halogen-free fire barrier additive from Chinese sources, based on natural graphite flakes with... 

This section provides comment on the major manufacturers and suppliers of flame retardant additives and materials. Table 6.1 lists suppliers of different types of flame retardants. 

For all branches of E E products, the call now is for flame retardant systems that do not rely on halogens or phosphorus and the leading suppliers are all steadily improving their additives despite the considerable argument about the merits of different materials not to mention the scientific reasoning behind some legislation. 

Performance property tables provided by suppliers usually refer to compounded grades containing property enhancers (additives) such as stabilizers, modifiers, and flame retardants. Sometimes the suppliers property tables refer to a polymer, rather than a formulated compound. 

It is possible for additive suppliers with relatively novel products to sell more product each year even when plastics sales are level, by persuading customers that it reduces process costs, improves end-product quality or achieves better comphance with regulations. The additives business is one where technical excellence creates new markets. Special factors such as new fire regulations increase sales of flame retardants. Increased use of agricultural film favours greater use of stabilisers. Changes in social habits (such as increased consumption of ready-to-eat meals or bottled mineral water) also stimulate additive sales. 

Many additives meet with sales resistance solely on cost grounds. But if customers have an overriding need for an effective flame retardant to meet stringent new fire specrfications while retaining other performance indicators, then suppliers are in a strong position. Reasons cited for above-average price increases sometimes include the need to invest in new capacity or to recoup R D expenditiure. 

This will be mainly to offer a range of colours, while only needing to hold stocks of natural material, or to add or boost specific properties, such as UV stability, anti-static properties or flame retardancy. To facilitate in-plant compounding, most suppliers have developed systems that efficiently and reproducibly deliver a controlled package of additives to a compound, using either a specialized concentrate or a masterbatch formulation. 

Additives required to give properties for specific applications such as pigments, flame retardants, fillers etc are almost always in the form of very fine powders as this is usually necessary for them to perform effectively. Although this can cause problems (with the single screw extruder normally being unable to satisfactorily incorporate these additives), they are more usually the concern of the compound and masterbatch supplier. 

A variety of properties can be attained. Blending is usually done by the resin supplier, but additional blending can also be done at the moulding stage if convenient. Processability, flame retardancy, control of shrinkage and pigmentation are the principal reasons for using fillers. A brief description of the principal fillers follows ... 

Another demanding appUcation is the stabilization of PVC jackets for plenum cables and related low-smoke flame-resistant applications. The underlying problem is the need to stabilize brominated flame retardants as well as the resin, and to counteract the destabilizing activity of various low-smoke additives, such as zinc borate and ammonium octamolybdate (AOM), and that of phosphate plasticizers. The solution is basically the use of a lot of stabilizer— typically 4-6 phr of a Ca/Zn/ zeolite such as would be used for automotive wire. Some suppliers offer specific products, such as Mark 6783, Baeropan MC 9108 KA, and Therm-Chek RC204P. The following is a starting-point recipe ... 

Based on our key criteria, we develop a list of material candidates. This list should be grouped by chemical family (i.e., the polypropylene family, the nylon family, etc.), as well as by primary additives that may be needed (glass reinforcement, tougheners, heat stabilizers, flame retardants, etc.). Potential suppliers can also be identified at this time. 

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