Successful Market Introduction of a New Generation of Halogen-free, Flame-retardant PCABS Blends
February 24 , 2006
LEVERKUSEN -- The new Bayblend® FR generation of flame-retardant polymer blends, based on a polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (PC/ABS), has been successfully positioned on the market thanks to an innovative application of nanotechnology by Bayer MaterialScience. Special oxidic nanomaterials incorporated in the Bayblend® FR flame retardant package promote the formation of carbon deposits on the surface of the plastic, thereby impeding the spread of flame in the event of fire.
The new products in the Bayblend® FR range can be used in a wide range of applications - from thin-wall technology, which requires a polymer melt with excellent flow behavior, through high temperature applications for structures that support voltage-carrying parts, to applications that impose high demands on chemical and hydrolysis resistance. In addition to a varied assortment of products for injection molding applications, the extensive portfolio includes extrusion and thermoforming applications requiring a melt with high stiffness.
The new product generation is based on an innovative, chlorine- and bromine-free flame retardant system. The advantages of this system derive from a nanotechnological approach developed and patented by Bayer in which the flame retardants remain within the polymer matrix during processing, thus optimizing their effectiveness in the end product. With correct processing, the formation of deposits in the mold or "plate-out" is prevented, as is the risk of damaging the mold. The service life between cleaning cycles is longer, which in turn increases productivity. The use of nanomaterials also leads to better hydrolysis resistance, meaning that the materials can be used long-term, especially when exposed to elevated moisture levels.
The new materials naturally meet the requirements of the two latest EU directives: WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and RohS (Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment). Moreover, they fulfill the recently tightened requirements of further major environmental labels. As a result of these more stringent requirements for flame retardant systems, halogenated high-impact polystyrene and ABS formulations are increasingly being replaced by chorine- and bromine-free flame-retardant PC blends in the production of housing components.
