Fire resistance for plastics
Minerals may be the cost-effective fire retardants and insulation additives that you’re looking for.
Minerals that can stand the heat
Minerals like mica, talc* and wollastonite demonstrate robust flame retardant properties, allowing manufacturers to reduce their reliance on other fire-proofing materials.
Mica grades are effective flame retardant extenders and can also partially replace ammonium polyphosphate (APP) systems in polyolefins, while improving mechanical properties without affecting overall fire resistance.
Ammonium polyphosphate is not only expensive, it also diminishes physical properties such as tensile strength. Mica products such as Suzorite® can replace up to one third of ammonium polyphosphate retardants, boosting flexural modulus, reducing shrinkage and promoting char formation.
Replacing 10% of glass fiber in glass-fiber-filled PA6 with any of the above minerals also improves rheology compared to using glass fiber alone.
Where available, our talcs can be used for the partial replacement of magnesium hydroxide and aluminum tri-hydrates to reduce compound costs without affecting flame retardant properties. Talcs like HAR® and Luzenac reduce the combustible content of the compound, reduce combustion rate and contribute to char formation. For more stringent requirements, Imerys High Aspect Ratio (HAR) talc provides an outstanding intumescent effect which retards fire ignition and protects the EVA from combustion. This intumescence is mainly due to the conjunction of heterogeneous bubble nucleation, barrier effect, increased viscosity and char promotion.
Get in touch to find out whether mica, wollastonite or talc solutions are right for your business.
*Talc products are not available in the USA and Canada. Contact us for an alternative range.
