Halogen-free DMPP adds to the range of flame retardants

Meets national fire prevention standards for polyurethane foams:

07-Mar-2002

Leverkusen - As part of its range of flame retardants, Bayer AG is now offering a new product for polyurethane rigid foams which, in special formulations, meets the fire prevention standards of a variety of countries. The halogen-free flame retardant Levagard® VP SP 51009 is a dimethylpropane phosphonate with a phosphorus content of over 20 percent. The low-viscosity product can be used in formulations to replace, either completely or partially, the halogen-containing flame retardants that are normally used. Areas of application include polyurethane rigid foams for insulating materials and sandwich elements along with floor coverings and protective coatings. Bayer produces the flame retardants Disflamoll® and Levagard which are suitable for almost any plastic applications. In a fire, they dehydrate the polymers which, in the fire's solid phase, leads to the creation of a fire-retardant crust made from charred material. With some phosphates there is also low smoke formation. These grades are compatible with a large number of industrial polymers, including ABS/PC blends, PVC, polyurethanes, phenol resins and synthetic rubbers. Without flame retardants such as these, plastics could not be used at all in many areas, for example in the building industry. This industry is provided with customized products that combine the unsurpassed heat insulation properties of polyurethane rigid foams with the requirements of fire prevention. However, Bayer products are not just used in the building sector. In vehicles, in electric and electronic equipment and in the building of production plants, materials need to be used that meet the relevant fire prevention regulations, which vary from one country to another. The Levagard range comprises halogen-containing, halogen-free and reactive alkyl phosphates. The latter can be chemically "incorporated" and are therefore particularly resistant to aging and migration. The halogen-free products are characterized by what is in some cases a very high phosphorus content. Areas of application for Levagard include polyurethane foams, unsaturated polyester resins and other thermosets. The Disflamoll aryl phosphates are suitable for thermoplastics - for example for casing materials - phenol resin laminates for circuit boards, plasticized PVC and other polymers. The plasticizer Disflamoll DPO, which gels well and is weathering resistant, is an aryl alkyl phosphate for particularly low-smoke flame-retardant articles made from PVC, polyurethane, NBR and SBR rubber and other polymers. It also gives the plasticized PVC blends good Saponification resistance. At the AddPlast trade fair, Bayer will be presenting to the plastics processing industry its full range of flame retardants, blowing agents, modifiers and plasticizers. The trade fair takes place from April 9 to 11, 2002 in Brussels, with Bayer's exhibition in Hall 7, Stand 302.