NEWS
Fraunhofer IFAM
Nick Wolter, Fraunhofer IFAM (see pinfa Newsletter n°105 FRPM 2019), presented the Mat4Rail project, developing innovative composite materials using polybenzoxazine (high performance, low density polymer), basalt fibre reinforcement and phosphorus PIN FRs.
READ MORECellMark
Frédéric Roquefeuil, CellMark, presented this group’s development into fire safety. The group was founded in 1984 in Sweden with roots in the pulp and paper industry, acquiring Alcan International Network in 2012. CellMark has today 700 staff worldwide and a strong emphasis on developing a safer and more sustainable chemistry.
READ MOREShinichi Ikoma and Shinji Sakaguchi, Daihachi
Daihachi sees phosphorus as the key to fire safety in the future as users look for alternative solutions to halogenated chemicals.
READ MOREKostas Gatos, TERNA MAG
TERNA MAG expects that the prospects of market growth for flame retardants will induce new developments in relevant materials and polymeric recipes, on the basis of optimum (technically and cost wise) solutions.
READ MOREMuhammad Waseem, Gabriel Chemie
Polyolefins in general, and polyproylene in particular, are one of Gabriel Chemie’s specialist sectors for halogen free flame retardants, providing masterbatches for extrusion and injection moulding applications with demanding fire safety and technical specifications such as stadium seats (see pinfa Newsletter n°44), films for aviation transport, construction, mining industry.
READ MOREBernd Hönig, Constab
Constab optimises formulations to achieve customers’ needs for specific and often demanding applications. PIN FRs are now available which offer heat stability in processing, are melt blendable, easy to process and can be transparent or colour-compatible.
READ MOREJürgen Troitzsch
Jürgen Troitzsch, consultant, summarised trends in fire safety standards. Increasingly, standards are designed to allow fire safety to be achieved by different approaches: use of inherently fire resistant materials, fire barriers or flame retardants.
READ MOREGeorg H. Luh
Klaus Rathberger, Georg H. Luh, Germany, outlined the benefits of his company’s expanded graphite as a PIN flame retardant system component.
READ MOREInternational Antimony Association (I2A)
Caroline Braibant, International Antimony Association (I2A) presented the “hazards” of antimony and stewardship measures engaged to enable safe use of antimony trioxide (ATO).
READ MOREConsultation on RoHS restrictions for halogenated FRs
The European Commission has a consultation, open to 30th January 2020, on restrictions on restrictions of additional substances under the RoHS Regulation (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment), with assessments of TBBPA (tetrabromobisphenol-A), MCCPs (medium chain chlorinated paraffins) and ATO (diantimony oxide). The consultation is based on dossiers for each substance prepared for the European Commission by Öko-Institut and Fraunhofer IZM (each 60-80 pages).
READ MOREEU consultation on classification of melamine
ECHA (European Chemical Agency) has launched, open to 7th February 2020, a public consultation on a proposal to classify (CLH) melamine as Cat 2 carcinogen (H351 suspected carcinogen) STOT RE1 (specific target organ toxicity, H372 urinary tract), based on possible risks from oral intake.
READ MOREEU ban on halogenated FRs in electronic display parts
The new EU Ecodesign Regulation requirements for electronic displays are now published, banning halogenated flame retardants in the enclosure and stand of all electronic displays, monitors and televisions, from 1st March 2021.
READ MOREWashington State consults on priority chemicals
Washington State has invited public comment on the five “priority chemical classes” identified in the State’s new law RCW 70.365 “Safer Products for Washington” adopted Spring 2019 (Senate Bill 5135).
READ MOREUS CPSC takes no decision on open flame testing
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the body which can fix federal product safety standards, has been discussing and studying a possible federal open flame fire safety requirement for furniture for 25 years, after granting a petition from the US National Association of Fire Safety Marshalls in 1994.
READ MORENew Hampshire bans all FRs in furniture
The State of New Hampshire has adopted a bill (SB193) banning the sale of furniture which contains > 0.1% “flame retardants” in its covering or cushioning.
READ MOREUK buildings failing fire safety tests
An estimated 1 700 buildings in the UK (hospitals, schools, high-rise flats …) may be “at risk” because cladding and construction materials pose fire risks.
READ MOREWhirlpool dryer fire recall
Whirlpool is being obliged to recall further clothes dryers, because in the machines as sold, fluff can accumulated and then enter into contact with the heating element.
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