| In response to a number of market drivers, | | | | both chemistries offer promise for the future, it is |
| manufacturers of non-halogen flame retardant | | | | unlikely that the time horizon for success is less than |
| additives and original equipment manufacturers have | | | | 15 years. The key to the trend in development with |
| been challenged to prophecy for their product lines as | | | | these chemistries will be improved physical properties |
| they consider a future that is clearly undefined and | | | | and enhanced char performance to reduce smoke |
| subject to potentially limitless change due to | | | | and provide better fire protection.4) Nanocomposites |
| regulatory oversight. However, some key trends | | | | are coming --Nanocomposite metal hydrates are |
| have developed over the past few years and these | | | | under development and in limited cases being used |
| also lead to changes in development direction, | | | | commercially. Nanocomposites offer the promise of |
| product rationalization and introduction, and changes in | | | | reducing loading levels and improving performance |
| market requirements. These trends are developing | | | | characteristics in many polymer systems. |
| due to the expressed needs within the marketplace | | | | Nanocomposite technology for magnesium hydroxide |
| for key product requirements including:- environmental | | | | could be the key to future opportunity albeit at |
| concerns,- regulatory concerns,- end user | | | | reduced load levels for the flame retardant additive. |
| requirements and- end of life concerns.Key trends in | | | | The relative impact in other non-halogen flame |
| non-halogen flame retardant additives include:1) | | | | retardant chemistries is yet to be determined.5) |
| Toxicity findings slow drive in non-halogen flame | | | | Recycling and waste reclamation programs --Two |
| retardant growth, but could also provide near-term | | | | primary programs in the European Community are |
| opportunity --The long awaited toxicological findings | | | | providing substantial impetus to recycling efforts in |
| for decabromodiphenyl ether and | | | | very large global consumer markets, WEEE and ELV. |
| tetrabromobisphenol-A announced in 2005 appear to | | | | WEEE is the European Community directive 2002/96 |
| have affected market interest in alternative materials. | | | | EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment |
| While this downward turn has become evident late in | | | | which, together with the RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC, |
| 2005, the regulatory scrutiny of halogenated flame | | | | became European Law in February 2003, setting |
| retardants is expected to be persistent in the coming | | | | collection, recycling and recovery targets for all types |
| years and successive regulatory initiatives are | | | | of electrical goods. ELV is the European Community |
| expected. Current civil and regulatory cases | | | | directive 2000/53/EC setting end-of-life vehicle |
| concerning perfluorochemicals could provide | | | | recovery and disposal requirements for cars, vans |
| opportunity for future developments in non-halogen | | | | and certain three-wheeled vehicles and establishing |
| systems as opposed to halogen-free systems; | | | | limits on the use of hazardous substances in the |
| however, this presents a formulating issue for many | | | | manufacture of new vehicles and automotive |
| non-halogen compounders as perfluorochemicals | | | | components. There is a cost driver to vehicle |
| provide anti-drip and external lubrication properties to | | | | producers requiring them to pay all or a significant |
| highly filled compounds.2) Polymer shifts to polyolefins | | | | part of the costs of treating negative of nil value |
| drive magnesium hydroxide growth --Magnesium | | | | ELVs at treatment facilities by 2007.The impact of |
| hydroxide use has grown due to shifts in two | | | | WEEE and ELV programs affect parts producers and |
| marketplaces:- EPDM roofing systems shifting to | | | | original equipment manufacturers around the world |
| polyolefin roofing systems, and- polyvinyl chloride | | | | because of global manufacturing locations, global |
| siding to polyolefin siding.With significant indications | | | | alliances and worldwide parts sourcing. As these |
| that polyolefin resin developments will continue to | | | | directives take root in the supply chain in the coming |
| build upon metallocene capabilities, the polyolefin resin | | | | years and over the next decade, it is expected to |
| family may offer a wider range for application | | | | drive parts design and composition in other |
| development based upon resin replacement | | | | geographical areas of the world due to inventory |
| opportunities. Because processing temperatures of | | | | rationalization at OEMs.To view the full 50-page |
| polyolefins are higher than the decomposition | | | | review of the market drivers and trends for the |
| temperature of aluminum trihydrate, the growth in | | | | non-halogen flame retardant market as analyzed by |
| polyolefin presents opportunities for magnesium | | | | JMME, Inc., please visit the Newsroom on the JMME |
| hydroxide growth and the development of other | | | | website.JMME, Inc., Copyright 2006, All rights |
| flame retardant systems with higher heat tolerance.3) | | | | reserved.John Moritz is President of JMME, Inc., ( a |
| Siloxane and boron chemistry may hold key to future | | | | consulting firm providing manufacturers, end users |
| -- | | | | and regulators with advice and strategic guidance on |
| Siloxane chemistry is under review in many | | | | the important role plastics play in today's corporate |
| applications and development programs are not | | | | and personal worlds. Since its inception, JMME has |
| limited to any one particular resin system or market | | | | been dedicated to corporate responsibility for |
| application; however siloxane materials provide | | | | developing safe products, effective protections |
| significant cost and processing hurdles to formulators. | | | | provided by codes and standards for the safe use of |
| The primary benefit of siloxane chemistry is the | | | | plastic products and the overall protection of sports |
| resilience of siloxane materials and improvements to | | | | participants and spectators through effective testing |
| physical performance they potentially provide to | | | | and development of plastic sports equipment. John |
| finished products containing non-halogen flame | | | | has written numerous articles and presentations on |
| retardant additives.Boron chemistry is under review | | | | issues related to the selection of plastics in various |
| with the potential for providing a key mechanism to a | | | | industries and their potential effects on the |
| universal flame retardant for polymers used in | | | | marketplace, environment and regulatory processes. |
| aviation and space vehicles; however, while | | | | John serves on numerous codes and standards |
| mechanisms are being considered, routes and | | | | technical committees where he has fought diligently |
| materials to achieve successful implementation of | | | | to preserve the consensus process and the integrity |
| those mechanisms are still lagging. Boron chemistry | | | | of the documents. Inquiries are encouraged and |
| provides excellent opportunity to formulators for | | | | welcomed.JMME is a consulting firm specializing in |
| reducing smoke development from compounds to | | | | plastics and flame retardant applications. |
| meet egress requirements from interior finish.While | | | | |