Flame retardants - Improving fire safety for plastic products

Flame retardants are highly efficient at improving the fire safety of plastics. FR additives, masterbatches, and resins can increase resistance to ignition; reduce the rate of burning, flame spread, and smoke emission; and minimize dripping during combustion. But the wrong type of flame retardant can negatively affect material properties, produce unwanted side effects, and add unnecessary cost. Manufacturers advise processors to carefully choose an FR additive that is compatible with the polymer and that meets the desired standards without altering mechanical properties. Fire-safety standards for plastics continue to become more stringent in the effort to minimize risks to human health and the environment, increasing the demand for, and cost of, these vital materials.