Manufacturers of Fire Retardants

Beilstein Handbook Reference) AI3-52311 BRN 0969143 CCRIS 939 Dibromomethane EINECS 200-824-2 HSDB 1334 Methane, dibromo- Methylene bromide Methylene dibromide NSC 7293 RCRA waste number U068 UN26M. Used in the production of leaded gasoline, as a fumigant for stored products and as a nematocide. Also used in the manufacture of fire retardent chemicals. Dense, mobile liquid mp = -52.5 bp = 97 d = 2.4969 soluble in organic solvents, slightly soluble in H2O. 

OTHER COMMENTS used in the manufacture of fire retardant compositions for flame-proofing textiles and paper products used in flameproofing wood used to treat cigarette paper so as to reduce the hazard of tumor formation from tobacco smoke used as soil treat-ment/for weed control/on apples, pears, fruit trees and ornamental trees. 

The main applications of PBI polymer are the manufacture of fire-retardant fibers and composites used primarily for military uses. 

Flame-retardant additives are capable of significant reduction in the ha2ard from unwanted fires, and techniques are now available to quantify these improvements. Combined with an understanding of fire-retardant mechanisms, polymer-retardant interactions, and reuse technology, formulations optimi2ed for pubHc benefit and manufacturing practicaUty can be selected. 

A highly reactive, rigid orthophthalic base resin with a high heat distortion temperature, formulated for the manufacture of pultruded profiles. Can be blended with 680-000 series resins to give differing levels of fire retardancy - see manufacturer s datasheets. 

An unaccelerated, halogenated system for the manufacture, principally by hand-lay or spray/projection, of fire retardant mouldings meeting the M2 (French) classification. Can also be employed for cold-press moulding and vacuum bag moulding. 

Two component, pre-catalyzed, flame retardant, low smoke/low toxicity (High LC50, U-PITT test), phenol resorcinol matrix resins. Three grades are available, 1000FM, 1030FM and 1060FM of different viscosity and solids content. Aii three systems are listed by Factory Mutual as "Identified Components for the Manufacture of Fire or Smoke Exhaust Ducts . 

In an another interesting application, the Japanese electronics group, NEC, is recycling fly ash from coal-fired power stations in the manufacture of flame-retardant PC resin. Not only does the new process reduce the manufacturing energy requirement by more than 20% bnt it also improves the flame resistance of the material without recourse to such flame retardants as halogens. 

A small amount of particleboard is made with a fire-retardant treatment for use in locations where codes require this material, as in some offices and elevators. Particleboards receive overlay and finishing treatments with ease. Wood veneers, melamine overlays, printed paper overlays, vinyl overlays, foils, and direct grain printing can all be done quite simply. A small amount of particleboard is also made in the form of shaped, molded articles such as furniture parts, paper roU plugs, bmsh bases, and even toilet seats. There is another small increment of particleboard made by the extmsion process. These products are made in small captive operations owned by furniture manufacturers which consume all of this production in their furniture. The extmsion process differs from conventional flat-pressed particleboard in that the wood furnish is forced between two stationary heated surfaces. The mats are formed from one edge and this edge is alternately formed and pushed between the heated platens, which are maintained at a distance equal to the thickness of board produced. This is an old, slow, small-scale process, but is stiU in use in at least one location. 

TrialkylPhosphates. Triethyl phosphate [78-40-0] C H O P, is a colorless Hquid boiling at 209—218°C containing 17 wt % phosphoms. It may be manufactured from diethyl ether and phosphoms pentoxide via a metaphosphate intermediate (63,64). Triethyl phosphate has been used commercially as an additive for polyester laminates and in ceHulosics. In polyester resins, it functions as a viscosity depressant as weH as a flame retardant. The viscosity depressant effect of triethyl phosphate in polyester resins permits high loadings of alumina trihydrate, a fire-retardant smoke-suppressant filler (65,66). 

THPOH—Ammonia—Tris Finish. By far the most effective finish for polyester—cotton textiles was a system based on the THPOH—NH treatment of the cotton component either foUowed or preceded by the appUcation of Tris finish to the polyester component. This combined treatment appeared to be effective on almost any polyester—cotton blend. A large amount of fabric treated in this way was sold throughout the United States and much of the rest of the world. Shortly after the introduction of Tris finishing, Tris was found to be a carcinogen. Most of the Tris treated production was in children s sleepwear, and this created a situation in which almost aU chemical fire-retardant-treated textiles were unfairly condemned as dangerous. Manufacturers mshed to replace chemically treated textiles with products produced from inherently flame-resistant fibers. Nowhere was the impact more severe than in the children s sleepwear market. New, safer materials have been introduced to replace Tris. Thus far none has been as completely effective. 

Hexafluorozirconic acid is used ia metal finishing and cleaning of metal surfaces, whereas the fluorozirconates are used in the manufacture of abrasive grinding wheels, in aluminum metallurgy, ceramics industry, glass manufacturing, in electrolytic cells, in the preparation of fluxes, and as a fire retardant (see Abrasives Metal surface treati nts). 

High purity hexafluorozirconic acid and its salts are produced by Advance Research Chemicals of the United States, and Akita and Moritta of Japan. The technical-grade green-colored material is suppHed by Cabot Corp. of the United States. In 1993, the U.S. market for fluorozirconic acid was about 250,000 kg/yr the world market was less than 500,000 kg/yr. A principal part of this production is consumed by the wool, garment, and upholstery industries. The 1993 price varied between 2.4 to 6.6/kg depending on the quaUty and quantity required. Potassium fluorozirconate [16923-95-8], K ZrF, is commercially important the world market is about 750,000 kg/yr. The most important appHcation is as a fire-retardant material in the wool (qv) industry, for the manufacture of garments, upholstery for aeroplane industry, and children s clothes (see Flame retardants). The 1993 unit price was between 5.0 and 6.6/kg. 

Approximately 5% of the U.S. consumption of is in agriculture. Boron is a necessary trace nutrient for plants and is added in small quantities to a number of fertilizers. Borates are also used in crop sprays for fast rehef of boron deficiency. Borates, when apphed at relatively high concentration, act as nonselective herbicides. Small quantities of borates are used in the manufacture of alloys and refractories (qv). Molten borates readily dissolve other metal oxides usage as a flux in metallurgy is an important apphcation. Other important small volume apphcations for borates are in fire retardants for both plastics and ceUulosic materials, in hydrocarbon fuels for fungus control, and in automotive antifreeze for corrosion control (see Corrosion and corrosion inhibitors). Borates are used as neutron absorbers in nuclear reactors. Several borates, which are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be used for insecticidal purposes, eg, TIM-BOR. 

Uses. Dicyandiamide is used as a raw material for the manufacture of several chemicals, such as guanamines, biguanide and guanidine salts, and various resias. Siace 1975, it has also been used ia the manufacture of potassium or sodium dicyanamide which are used as iasecticides and ia chemotherapy. Melamine has extensive appHcations ia the resia and plastic iadustry guanamines are used as copolymers (qv) ia many resia compositions. Guanidine phosphate [1763-07-1] is employed as a fire retardant ia appHcations where water solubiHty is not a drawback. 

Uses. Most of the melamine produced is used ia the form of melamiae—formaldehyde resias (see Amino resins and plastics). Other appHcations (63) iaclude the use of melamine pyrophosphate [15541 -60-3] ia fire retardant textile finishes, chloriaated melamine as a bactericide, and melamine as a tarnish inhibitor in detergent compositions, in papermaking, and manufacture of adhesives. 

Many metal borates find important industrial applications (p. 140) and annual world production exceeds 2.9 million tonnes Turkey 1.2, USA 1.1, Argentina 0.26, the former Soviet Union 0.18, Chile 0.13Mt. Main uses are in glass-fibre and cellular insulation, the manufacture of borosilicate glasses and enamels, and as fire retardants. Sodium perborate (for detergents) is manufactured on a 550 000 tonne pa scale. 

Of major concern are the health and environmental impacts of the abundant chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbons (ref. 2). These materials have numerous industrial applications as pesticides, solvents, propellants, refrigerants, plastics, fire retardants and extinguishers, disinfectants for drinking water, pharmaceuticals and electronic chemicals. Many chemical manufacturers utilize chlorinated and brominated organics as intermediates. It is estimated, for instance, that almost 85 % of the pharmaceuticals produced in the world require chlorine at some stage of synthesis. 

Chlorinated compounds PCP, PCBs, PCDD/Fs Manufacture of pesticide and herbicide (D) Wood preservation sites (P) Pulp and paper production (P) Municipal waste incineration (P,D) Plastics, fire-retardants manufacture (P,D) Chlorinated phenols -3.6 Chlorinated hydrocarbons - 2.4 [43, 44]... 

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