Elementis Expands Specialty Additives Portfolio with Fire-retardant Synergists
Last update on Oct 21, 2024
Elementis announces the expansion of its specialty additives product offerings into plastic compounding applications with the introduction of CHARGUARD™ organoclay-based fire-retardant synergists.
CHARGUARD™ fire retardant synergists are designed to enhance anti-drip and char formation properties of non-halogenated fire-retardants.
Regulatory Pressure Drives Research into Safe Alternatives
Over the past decade, the consumer product and industrial plastic industries have undergone significant changes in the ways that products are produced and in the acceptance of permissible ingredients used in plastics.
Among these changes, the demand for fire retardants that are safer for humans and the environments has surged, leading to a strong need for performance boosters in the effectiveness of non-halogenated fire retardants used in plastic compounding and a growing number of consumer and industrial product applications.
As manufacturers move away from halogen-based fire retardants and Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) synergists, concerns about the environmental and health impacts over these substances have grown, leading to regulatory scrutiny and research into safer alternatives. With well studied and impressive safety credentials and superior performance properties, the shift has paved the way for naturally derived organoclay to be considered as an alternative synergist option.
CHARGUARD™ 1000
CHARGUARD™ 1000 is particularly useful in consumer electronics and whiteware plastics. Its natural white color and ultra-fine particles make it perfect for products that require a bright, clean, white finish. The reversable shear-thinning properties of organoclay provide for ease of processing under high solid mechanical stress conditions that are common with processing non-halogenated retardants. These properties combined with an ultra-fine, delaminated platelet structure, help prevent dripping and promote char formation during thermal combustion events and make CHARGUARD™ 1000 an excellent choice for formulations that require both improved fire safety and a polished, attractive appearance.
CHARGUARD™ 2000
CHARGUARD ™ 2000 is ideal for neutral, darker, or opaque plastic compounding applications where color is less critical, but fire safety is paramount. Larger particle sized CHARGUARD™ 2000 is an excellent choice for industrial fire retardant masterbatch applications that require high tensile strength, exceptional elongation to break and ultra-low moisture pick-up properties.