Special flame retardants
(non-halogen, non-antimony)

Non-halogen, non-antimony flame retardants in 5 series:
multi-purpose flame retardants based on special carbonization technology increasingly in demand

Q:

What are your opinions about how flame retardants should be to meet the demands of the 21st century, and how does your new series of flame retardants correspond?

A:

M. Yamada, assistant general manager, the Business Dept., Daiwa Chemical Industries Our 5 series of flame retardants have attracted the attention of users. At present, sales of the Fran EG and GP/NES series, in particular, are on a steady increase. Their compatibility with all fibers is the reason for the strong support. Previously, we had carbonizing and melting types in our range of flame retardants. We have conducted product development in search of something that holds back combustion by forming a solid carbon layer, with regard to the nature of combustion in each fiber material. Having gone through further consolidations, the development of the multi-purpose Fran EG series has been finalized. We had had experience in selling flame retardants and gained first-hand acknowledgement of how flame retardants should be to serve different purposes. Having that as a base, we came up with a special technology to produce solid carbon layer, as a result of research into an optimum flame-retardant effect in all uses and in all fibers. That is how the Fran EG series was developed. A low level of toxicity has been achieved with its anti-melting properties. That contributed in obtaining the approval of UL standards as multi-purpose flame retardants for use in building materials, automobile/aeroplane upholstery and soft furnishings. You casually call it multi-purpose, but its development is such a hard task. A multi-purpose type effective for use in area A may produce inferior effects in area B. Or overall effects may average out. Fran EG is a series of products free of such discrepancies. Fran EG series: characteristics, active constituents, examples of use and usages (Click for enlargement) Special care, however, is required for use in car upholstery, depending on the car manufacturer. More and more manufacturers are now in support of stricter conditions for use. The Fran GP/NES series is one that can satisfy such demands.

Q:	You have around 30 kinds of flame retardants in 5 series, and those series cover a whole wide area of use?
A:	Our data on their practical use has confirmed a sufficient coverage of areas.

Q:	There is a growing demand in the textile, building or automobile industry for higher performance finishes based on differentiation technology. You have pursued a differentiation technology in the development of flame retardants in response. Is this experience acting as a pointer in the development of other high performance finishing agents?
A:	Various new ideas are also springing up in our research divisions for other performance finishes, based on their long research experience. There is a good atmosphere in the firm with all these producing a synergistic effect.

(Interviewed by K. Ishiguro, textileinfo editorial)