NEWS
EU textiles industry BAT regulatory update
Draft update to BAT will require consideration of substitution of brominated flame retardants for textiles finishing. Under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), EU Best Available Techniques (BAT) specifications, where defined, are legally applicable to all concerned industry installations in Europe. pinfa made detailed input to the process of updating the textiles industry BAT reference document (BREF) in 2020 (see pinfa Newsletter n°114).
READ MOREEU consultation: chemicals information
To 12th April. Proposals to coordinate different chemicals assessment procedures and improve chemical data access. As part of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the Commission proposes to streamline chemicals assessments by various EU agencies (chemicals ECHA, food safety EFSA, environment EEA and medicines EMA) as well as EU expert groups, scientific committees and contractor studies.
READ MOREReminder: EU consultation on REACH
To 15th April 2022: polymers, endocrine disruption, mixture effects, environmental footprint, essential use. See pinfa Newsletter n°133.
READ MORECanada assessment of 1-bromopropane
Canada has proposed to classify the non-FR chemical 1-bromopropane (nPB) persistent, health and environment risk. 1-bromopropane is principally used as a solvent, degreaser or intermediate in chemicals production, adhesives and sealants, not as a flame retardant.
READ MOREEU public consultation: Toy Safety Directive
To 25th May 2022. Should rules on chemicals in toys should be stricter? Which chemicals should be targeted or banned? The consultation questionnaire, open to the public and to stakeholders, asks whether rules on chemicals in toys should be made stricter, what types of chemical risks should be targeted, how the Directive should address hazardous chemicals and how chemicals should be indicated on toy labels.
READ MOREEU public consultation: RoHS review
To 2nd June 2022. RoHS and recycling, Critical Raw materials, REACH. Process for updating restricted substances. The RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment 2011/65/EU) is currently under review. The open consultation targets both the general public, with four questions concerning RoHS and recycling (hazardous substances in recycled materials, recycling costs) and 30 questions for industry and specialists.
READ MOREDebate on EPA risk conclusions on HBCD
US EPA’s conclusion on risks of the brominated FR, HBCD, faces questions on “whole-chemical” approach.. The EPA’s final Risk Assessment of hexabromocyclododecane and the cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD), December 2021, see pinfa Newsletter n°135, concludes impacts on aquatic plants, fish embryos, aquatic invertebrates, earthworms and priority human health impact on the thyroid hormone.
READ MOREUS’ grim sequels to Grenfell
Two recent fires in public housing in the US, leaving 29 dead lead to calls for reform in fire safety regulations and funding.17 people died in the Twin Parks North West public housing building, in th...
READ MOREIncreasing threat of wildfires
UNEP predicts global increase of extreme wildfires and recommends ecosystem management and asset protection. Uncontrollable wildfires will increase, even in regions previously unaffected, because of climate change, land-use and population change, resulting in significant climate emissions, particulates and toxic smoke.
READ MOREFlame Retardancy Polymer Science
New 470-page book on fire analysis principles and applications inc. flame retardancy, toxicity, standards and regulations. Addresses techniques for characterisation of fire and flame behaviour and smoke toxicity, laboratory testing techniques, industrial aspects of fire analysis.
READ MOREGrowth in chemical plastics recycling
Industry experts AMI expect fast growth in chemical plastics recycling to complement mechanical recycling. Plastics use and waste, especially in packaging, continues to grow, even in Europe. Mechanical recycling capacity is insufficient. Plastic use and waste per inhabitant increased nearly 25% in Europe 2009-2019, with some 30 million tonnes of plastic waste produced of which only 41% recycled by 2021.
READ MOREMechanical recycling of PIN FR polymers
A TU Darmstadt thesis suggests that PIN FRs are not an obstacle to mechanical recycling of thermoplastics. Mineral, nitrogen and phosphorus based PIN flame retardants (ATH, sepiolite, aluminium diethylphosphinate, piperazine pyrophosphate, phosphate ester, APP, melamine cyanurate) were tested in various thermoplastics: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polycarbonate/ABS blend, including with glass fibres and stabilisers.
READ MOREPhosphorus PIN FR improves PET recycling
Two phosphorus PIN FRs show to protect polymer properties in recycling (multiple re-extrusion cycles) of PET. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), a polymer widely used for films and textiles, was tested pure and flame retarded with DOPO-PEPA (5%) or with a phosphate ester (3%).
READ MOREFRs and solvent chemical recycling
Different solvents were tested for chemical recycling of mixed E&E waste showing recovery of polymers and removal of FRs. Mixed, shredded E&E plastic waste was provided by a commercial waste recycler in the USA, after mill beating and metal separation.
READ MOREHalogenated FRs in China recycled plastics
Based on measurements in plastics samples, tonnages of halogenated FRs in recycled plastics in China were estimated. Total levels of twelve halogenated flame retardants (HFRs)* were measured in 23 samples of recycled plastics, manufactured in five Chinese provinces. Mean total HFR concentrations were approx. 4 – 60 µg/kg for different recycled polymers tested**.
READ MOREPIN compounds to recycle polyurethanes
Phosphorus, nitrogen and inorganics used in polyurethane chemical recycling produce PIN flame retardant recycled PUR. Glycolysis is the most widespread route for chemical recycling of polyurethanes (PUR). Glycols or glycerol (which can be bio-derived), with catalysts, are used as depolymerising agents (usually at around 180 to 240°C).
READ MOREPIN FR recycled denim fire blocks
Denim cotton fabric can be recycled using PIN flame retardants to produce composite boards for fire compartmentation. The world produces some 150 million t/y of textile waste.
READ MOREUV cured PIN FR coating
Texas A&M scientists propose phosphorus-based one-dip UV cured fire protective coatings for wood and other materials. The new coating presented at the ACS (American Chemical Society) conference uses an aqueous solution of hydroxyethyl methacrylate phosphate (HMP) monomer, polyethylenimine (PEI) polymer and a the photoinitiator TPO.
READ MOREPolyphosphonate obtains GreenScreen®
pinfa member FRX Polymers’ polymeric phosphorus PIN FR GreenScreen 3 Benchmark recognises safety and non-toxicity. GreenScreen is a leading ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria), referenced by mainstream labelling organisations, for example the TCO label (see above).
READ MOREPIN FR Fabric-over-Foam EMI gaskets
Laird (Dupont group) offers non-halogenated flame retardant EMI (electromagnetic interference) gaskets. With roots back to 1824, and after acquisitions including Emerson & Cuming, BMI, Steward, and Thermagon, Laird Performance Materials is today part of Dupont and specialises in materials for protection of electronic devices from harmful heat and disruptive electromagnetic interference
READ MORESilicon phosphorus nitrogen FR for PLA
A silicon polyphosphoramide was synthesised and tested as a PIN flame retardant for bio-based polylactide plastic.
READ MOREIron alginate bio-based PIN FR for epoxy
Iron alginate at 8% w/w in epoxy resin halved both peak heat release rate and smoke release rate in epoxy. Iron alginate was produced by aqueous reaction of sodium alginate, which can be extracted from marine plants, with the ferric salts, then dried, pulverised and mixed into epoxy resin during curing.
READ MOREEU consultation on RoHS
To 14th March 2022. Questions whether RoHS Directive should be maintained, updated, tightened, repealed or replaced.
READ MORENew York Br-FR ban in TVs amended
The NY ban on brominated FRs in TV/display stands and casings now requires notification of any organohalogen FRs.
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