Flammability of Plastics and its Retardance

Plastics are one of the most useful materials known to mankind. Plastics is a high molecular weight material composed of repeating molecules called monomers. Due to the chemical composition of plastics, it easily ignites whenever exposed to heat in the presence of oxygen. Owing to the fact that plastics can easily burn, considerable efforts have been made in regard to minimize flammability. One such effort is the use of Flame Retardant Additives that are capable to minimize or prevent the combustion of the material.

 

How is the Flammability of Plastics measured?

There are flammability test methods viz. Vertical and Horizontal Flammability Testing, to measure the flammability of the plastics and ensure that the products satisfy all the safety requirements and regulations before they are brought to the market. These tests are made to examine how easily materials ignite, how quickly they burn out, and how they react while combustion.

During the flammability test, the material is kept over a bunsen burner either vertically or horizontally depending on the material’s specifications. Then it is observed for the length of the time it burns after the flame is removed, how much of the specimen burns during the process and whether or not it drips particles.

 

What can be done to reduce the flammability of plastics?

Plastics are made of an organic compound and therefore have the disadvantage of being flammable. In order to make it less flammable Flame retardant and Anti Dripping Additives composed of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and other halogen compounds are highly recommended.

There is a well-known firm, Inolub Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited (GFL) offering exceptional quality flame retardants to various industries. Additives offered by GFL are widely tested and proven to help mitigate fire danger. They are made to increase plastic ignition, reduce the speed of the flame spread, reduce heat release and reduce smoke and fume generation.

 

So if you are in need of fluorine-based fire retardant agents, simply contact Inolub and get the most reliable, quality-driven additives for your all industrial purposes.