Flame retardants antimony based

XRF is used to measure the amounts of phosphoms-based flame retardants in textiles and the amount of antimony-based flame retardant in plastics. For textiles, a piece of fabric is cut into a square piece and stretched across a standard sample cup and held in place by the sample container ring. This results in a flat specimen for analysis. Phosphorus levels in the range of 0.3-3% P can be measured in a sample in as little as 60 s. Details of the method are available from SPECTRO Analytical Instruments (www.spectro-ai.com). 

Great Lakes has joined with Laurel Industries, part of Occidental Petroleum (OxyChem) to form a 50 50 JV called GLCC Lamel LLC. The JV was intended to compete with cheap Chinese antimony imports by producing and marketing antimony-based flame retardants, synergists, and catalysts. Great Lakes has the responsibility for sales, customer service, techiucal support, credit and logistics. 

In polymers such as polystyrene that do not readily undergo charring, phosphoms-based flame retardants tend to be less effective, and such polymers are often flame retarded by antimony—halogen combinations (see Styrene). However, even in such noncharring polymers, phosphoms additives exhibit some activity that suggests at least one other mode of action. Phosphoms compounds may produce a barrier layer of polyphosphoric acid on the burning polymer (4,5). Phosphoms-based flame retardants are more effective in styrenic polymers blended with a char-forming polymer such as polyphenylene oxide or polycarbonate. 

It has been found that bromine based flame retardants, even when decomposing by different pathways caused by their structure, do not change the decomposition temperature of HIPS. However, antimony trioxide, which is a common synergist for bromine based flame retardants, reduces the thermal stability of HIPS. This indicates that the synergist influences the path of the decomposition of HIPS (18). 

Polyolefins When used in conjunction with a halogen-based flame retardant, this zinc borate can partially replace antimony oxide (30%-40%) and still maintain the same fire test performance. In addition, it can improve aged elongation properties, increase char formation, and decrease smoke generation. The B203 moiety in zinc borate can also provide afterglow suppression (Table 9.6). 

The most common halogen-based flame retardants used in styrenic polymers are listed in Table 29.1 [23]. The majority of these are brominated aromatic compounds used to flame retard HIPS and ABS. As mentioned in Section 4, roughly 10 wt% of bromine is required to pass UL 94 V-0 requirements. Antimony trioxide is also used in combination with these brominated compounds. 

Phosphorus-based flame retardants are usually more suitable for engineering plastics that undergo charring than for commodity polymers. In some plastics, such as PC-ABS or poly(phenylene oxide)-HIPS blends, phosphorus-based flame retardants are more effective then halogenated flame retardants. Antimony trioxide, which is a part of halogen-containing formulations, is a Lewis acid and may destabilize some condensation polymers. Furthermore, the impact properties of engineering polymers may suffer due to the presence of powdery antimony trioxide. 

Kaprinidis, N. Zingg, J. Overview of flame retardant compositions UV stable flame retardant systems and antimony free flame retardant products for polyolefins halogen free melamine based flame retardants for polyamides, in Proceedings of the Spring FRCA Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2003, pp. 168-175. 

Degradation products from both antimony-halogen based and nitrogen-phosphorus based flame retardants were studied using X-ray diffraction and atomic emission analysis. Evidence of the retardation mechanisms in use against combustion was obtained for each system and in each case emission of volatile combustion inhibitors at the degradation temperature of the polymer matrix was the critical factor. 11 refs BELARUS BELORUSSIA... 

A significant advance in flame retardancy was the introduction of binary systems based on the use of halogenated organics and metal salts (6,7). In particular, a 1942 patent (7) described a finish for utilizing chlorinated paraffins and antimony(III) oxide [1309-64-4]. This type of finish was invaluable in World War II, and saw considerable use on outdoor cotton fabrics in both uniforms and tents. 

In the 1990s, two types of flame retardants are preferred for outdoor fabrics, ie, a system based on phosphoms and nitrogen such as the precondensate—NH finish and an antimony—bromine system based on decabromodiphenyl oxide [1163-19-5] and antimony(III) oxide (20,40—42). 

The tetramethylol derivative of DABT, prepared by reaction of DABT with alkaline aqueous formaldehyde, polymerized readily on cotton. It imparted excellent flame retardancy, very durable to laundering with carbonate- or phosphate-based detergents as well as to hypochlorite bleach. This was accomphshed at low add-on without use of phosphoms compounds or antimony(III) oxide (75—77). 

Flame retardants such as a-alumina trihydrate [14762-49-3] can be added to latex-based foamed carpet backing a combination of antimony oxide [1309-64-4] and chlorinated paraffins is used in dry mbber. 

Some inorganic fillers are used as flame retardants in rubber base formulations. Flame retardants act in two ways (1) limiting or reducing access of oxygen to the combustion zone (2) reacting with free radicals (especially HO ), thus acting as terminator for combustion-propagation reaction. The additives most widely used as flame retardants for polymers are antimony oxides and alumina trihydrate. 

Other flame retardants and/or smoke suppressants can also be used such as magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium-zinc complexes and some tin-zinc compositions. Zinc oxide is a common ingredient in many rubber base formulations used as part of the curing system. At the same time, the action of zinc oxide is similar to that of antimony trioxide, but less effective. 

More recently, based on the results of an extensive series of small scale degradation studies, two additional mechanisms for the volatilization of antimony from antimony oxide/organohalogen flame retardant systems have been proposed (23,24). Of these two proposed mechanisms, [4] and [5], [4] does not involve HX formation at all and [5] suggests an important role for the direct interaction of the polymer substrate with the metal oxide prior to its reaction with the halogen compound. 

The traditional flame retardant is based on organobromine compounds together with antimony trioxide as a synergist. Magnesium hydroxide is a good flame retardant due to its high decomposition temperature and smoke suppression properties. It is widely used in thermoplastic materials. However, magnesium hydroxide must be added in portions of some 60% to achieve a reasonable effect. 

FLAMERETARDANTS - ANTIMONY AND OTHERINORGANIC FLAME RETARDANTS] (Vol 10) Acid hydrogen-base theory... 

Flame retardants - [TEXTILES-FINISHING] (Vol 23) - [ALUMENUMCOMPOUNDS - INTRODUCTION] (Vol2) -antimony as [ANTIMONY AND ANTIMONY ALLOYS] (Vol 3) -antimony compds as [ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS] (Vol 3) -antimony compds as [ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS] (Vol 3) -based on ammonium sulfamate [SULFAMIC ACID AND SULFAMATES] (Vol 23) -bromine in [BROMINE] (Vol 4) -in electronic applications [PACKAGING - ELECTRONIC MATERIALS] (Vol 17) -iron fluoride in mfg of [FLUORINE COMPOUNDS, INORGANIC - IRON] (Vol 11) -nickel compounds as [NICKEL COMPOUNDS] (Vol 17) -phosphorus for [PHOSPHORUS] (Vol 18) -polycarbonates in [POLYCARBONATES] (Vol 19) -from propylene oxide [PROPYLENE OXIDE] (Vol 20) -for rubbers [RUBBERCHEMICALS] (Vol 21) -use m electrical connectors [ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS] (Vol 9)... 

Early Durable Finishes. Early studies lo produce durable flame retardants for cellulose were based on treatment wilh inorganic compounds containing antimony and titanium. 

In tile 1990s. two lypes lit flame retardants are preferred lor outdoor fabrics, i.e.. a system based on phosphorus and nitrogen such as the precondensuie-NHi finish and an antimony-bromine system based on decahromodiphetiyl oxide and antimony)III) oxide. 

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