New class of brominated polymeric flame retardants

摘要

@@Flame retardant (FR) additives are blended with polymers to provide improved fire performance so that the polymers can be used in various commercial applications. Some widely-used commercial flame retardants face increased regulatory scrutiny because of their PBT impact (Persistence, Bioaccumulation, Toxicity) in the environment. One such widely used FR, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), is a brominated flame retardant produced in Europe, US and Asia and used in thermal insulation polystyrene (PS) foams and in textile coatings. HBCD is facing a phase-out from commercial use in Japan within a few years and in Europe by 2015.As a result, there have been increased research efforts to find a suitable replacement for HBCD.Key criteria for selecting a replacement for HBCD include fire performance, thermal stability, environmental and health profile, as well as the complexity and cost of using in existing processes, polymer systems and applications.