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