New intumescent from Budenheim

Budenheim has introduced a new intumescent halogen-free flame retardant for thermoplastic polymers - Budit 3167.
The company says that the technology of intumescent flame retardants is well suited to decrease the flammability of thermoplastic polymers, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. If a fire breaks out, intumescents create an insulating layer that protects the plastic material underneath from heat.

Budit 3167 is based on a new synergistic system, which has been improved considerably. According to Budenheim, this new product demonstrates good efficiency while maintaining the mechanical properties of plastic materials. Char formation on the surface of the condensed phase prevents fire from spreading. The amount of fuel produced is greatly diminished, because char is formed rather than combustible gases. In contrast to halogenated flame retardants, the mechanism of fire extinction takes place in the solid state. This prevents the formation of large volumes of toxic and corrosive gases.

Processing and compounding properties are claimed to be good due to the high thermal stability offered by Budit 3167. Consequently, the flame retardant does not deteriorate during extrusion and the final polymer quality is very high. Higher water resistance of the flame retardant increases the range of applications. Budit 3167 can be used in PP, PE and others with lower loadings in the range of 18-25% to achieve a UL94 V-0 rating, while maintaining excellent mechanical properties.