Flame Retardant Chemicals

SPARTAN FLAME RETARDANTS INC. Flame Retardant Chemicals  

Inorganic-Powder Non Wovens/Textiles/Cotton, Textile Fibers 

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The Brominated Flame Retardants Industry Panel (BFRIP) was formed ia 1985 within the Flame Retardant Chemicals Association (FRCA) to address such concerns about the use of decabromodiphenyl oxide. Siace 1990 the BFRIP has operated as a Chemical Self-Funded Technical Advocacy and Research (CHEMSTAR) panel within the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) (64). As of 1993, members of BFRIP are Ak2o, Amerihaas (Dead Sea Bromine Group), Ethyl Corp., and Great Lakes Chemical. Siace its formation, BFRIP has presented updates to iadustry on a regular basis (65,66), and has pubhshed a summary of the available toxicity information on four of the largest volume brominated flame retardants (67,68) tetrabromo bisphenol A, pentabromodiphenyl oxide, octabromodiphenyl oxide, and decabromodiphenyl oxide. This information supplements that summarized ia Table 11. 

E. D. Weil, "Flame Retardant Chemicals for Polyurethane AppHcations," Polyurethane Technol Conf. (Preprints), Clemson Univ., Clemson, S.C., 1987. 

The identification of Tris as a potential carcinogen dealt a resounding blow to the flame-retardant finishing industry. From 1977 to 1984, several principal supphers of flame-retardant chemicals either reduced the size of their operations or abandoned the market completely. However, Albright and Wilson Corp. (UK) continues to produce THPC—urea precondensate and market it worldwide, and Westex Corp. (Chicago) continues to apply precondensate—NH finish to millions of yards of goods for various end uses. American Cyanamid reentered the market with a precondensate-type flame retardant based on THPS. 

Paints are complex formulations of polymeric binders with additives including anti-corrosion pigments, colors, plasticizers, ultraviolet absorbers, flame-retardant chemicals, etc. Almost all binders are organic materials such as resins based on epoxy, polyurethanes, alkyds, esters, chlorinated rubber and acrylics. The common inorganic binder is the silicate used in inorganic zinc silicate primer for steel. Specific formulations are available for application to aluminum and for galvanized steel substrates. 

Approximately 10 million pounds of trichloroethylene are used aimually as a chain transfer agent in the production of polyvinyl chloride (McNeill 1979). Other chemical intermediate uses of trichloroethylene include production of pharmaceuticals, polychlorinated aliphatics, flame retardant chemicals, and insecticides (Mannsville 1992 Windholz 1983). Trichloroethylene is used as a refrigerant for low-temperature heat transfer (Cooper and Hickman 1982 lARC 1979 McNeill 1979) and in the aerospace industry for flushing liquid oxygen (Hawley 1981 Kuney 1986). 

A good example of the many successftil DfE Partnerships is the Furniture Flame Retard-ancy Partnerhip. Pentabromodiphenylether (PentaBDE) was the primary flame retardant used in low density, flexible polyurethane furniture foam. Due to concerns over its use and the fact that the chemical was found widespread in the environment and in human tissue and breast milk, PentaBDE was voluntarily phased out of production by US manufacturers in January 2004. The industry needed alternatives in order to meet furniture flame retardancy requirements, but did not have the human and environmental health and safety information needed in order to compare the alternatives. DfE worked with the furniture manufacturers, foam manufacturers, and flame-retardant chemical suppliers along with governmental and environmental groups to evaluate possible alternatives. 

The need to evaluate alternatives often arises once the decision to eliminate chemicals of concern is made. Sometimes a chemical of concern can be eliminated through product design such as through the use of a material that is inherently flame retardant or a fabric barrier without the need for added flame-retardant chemicals. But when the only currently feasible option appears to be a chemical substitution, then the alternatives must be evaluated and assessed to ensure that they are in fact greener than the chemical they are intended to replace. We provide as examples of implementing alternatives assessment, the Green Screen for Safer Chemicals and the DfE Flame Retardants in Printed Circuit Boards Partnership. 

Flame retardants in printed circuit boards partnership. Circuit boards are commonly used in electronics in consumer and industrial products, including computers and cell phones. In order to ensure fire safety, manufacturers commonly produce circuit boards with flame-retardant chemicals. While serving an important performance function, some flame-retardant chemicals can be harmful if released into the environment. To better understand the issues and the full range of options for flame-retarding circuit boards, DfE is engaging with the electronics industry and other stakeholders in a partnership. 

The European consumption of plasticisers (as the main modifier) is gradually increasing, as shown in Table 1.7, with an expected growth of 2.7% for 2001-2006. The total European market for flame-retardant chemicals (percent of revenues by product type - forecast for the year 2003) is as follows ... 

Great Lakes Chem. Corp.-Product Information on Flame Retardant Chemicals, 1983. 

Toxicological Risks of Selected Flame-Retardant Chemicals (2000)... 

Polyamide-imides are appreciated for good mechanical and electrical properties high service temperatures (up to 220°C with possible long service times at 260°C) rigidity good creep behaviour fatigue endurance low shrinkage and moisture uptake inherent flame retardancy chemical resistance usability down to -196°C. 

To test the hypothesis that the metering channel is too deep to run at a rate of 3860 kg/h without the degradation of the flame retardant chemical, simulations were performed as a function of the metering channel depth. Since the rate will be... 

National Research Council (2000) Toxicological risks of selected flame-retardant chemicals. National Academy Press, Washington DC, pp 338-416... 

Ulsamer, A.G, Osteibeig, R.E. McLaughlin, J., Jr (1980) Flame-retardant chemicals in textiles. Clin. Chem., 17, 101-131... 

Figure 5.2 Readily available flame retardant chemicals which could be substituted for pentaBDE.

Hughs MF, Edwards BC, Mitchell CT, et al. 2001. In vitro dermal absorption of flame retardant chemicals. Food Chem Toxicol 39(12) 1263-1270. 

Norris JM, Ehrmantraut JW, Kociba RJ, et al. 1975a. Evaluation of decabromodiphenyl oxide as a flame-retardant chemical. Chem Hum Health Environ 1 100-116. 

Lynn, R.K., Wong, K., Dickinson, R.G., Gerber, N, Kennish, J.M. (1980) Diester metabolites of the flame retardant chemicals, tris(l,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate and tris(2,3-dibromopropyPphosphate in the rat identification and quantification. Res. Commun. chem. Path. Pharmacol.. 28, 351-360... 

Special grades of polystyrene include impact polystyrene modified with ignition-resistant chemical additives. These were developed because of increased emphasis on product safety and used in many electrical and electronic appliances. The addition of flame-retardant chemicals docs not make the polymer noncombustible, but increases its resistance to ignition and decreases the rate of burning when exposed to a minor fire source. 

Other fibrous and porous materials used for sound-absorbing treatments include wood, cellulose, and metal fibers foamed gypsum or Portland cement combined with other materials and sintered metals. Wood fibers can be combined with binders and flame-retardent chemicals. Metal fibers and sintered metals can be manufactured with finely controlled physical properties. They usually are made for applications involving severe chemical or physical environments, although some sintered metal materials have found their way into architectural applications. Prior to concerns regarding its carcinogenic properties, asbestos fiber had been used extensively in spray-on acoustical treatments. 

For these reasons, any official approval of fire-retardant paint will specify coverage requirements as to gallon-per-square-foot ratio. And, as in the case of flame-retardant chemical application to fabrics, corresponding regulation will be necessary for those who apply fire-retardant paint in occupancies governed by statute and where credit is given by building codes or insurance underwriters. 

Present research efforts aim mainly at obtaining the important parameters from a study of the macrokinetics of combustion. It is important to estimate the effects of flame retardants, chemical structure of the polymer and polymer composition on variations of the solid- and gas-phase reaction kinetics. 

Trace analysis of organic compounds is primarily used in the detection and determination of harmful substances of natural origin (e.g., mycotoxins) as well as those that are the undesirable result of human activity, especially industrial and agricultural. Of the latter, the subject of interest could be either intentionally produced compounds (pesticides, flame retardants, chemical weapons, etc.) or unwanted impurities released in an uncontrolled manner in technological processes or from improper combustion of fuels and waste materials [1,2]. 

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