Inorganic flame retardants and mineral compounds.Nitrogen-based flame retardants are used in nylons, polyolefins, polyurethane foams, and fire-resistant paints, textiles and wallpapers. Phosphorous is commonly used in fire resistant coatings and flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is also applied in electronics and in high temperature plastics used for manufacturing switches and connectors, and it is used for casings in some less flammable plastics. These types of flame retardants are extensively used in polyurethane foams to make fire resistant furniture, mattresses, and thermal insulation materials. Phosphorus is used to produce liquid and solid organic or inorganic flame retardants.
It is also used in the plastic casings that surround electrical and electronic components. Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) is a halogenated flame retardant used as a raw material to manufacture printed circuit boards. Halogenated flame retardants have one carbon atom bound to a halogen atom and are used to protect many types of plastics and textiles.
After the July 2013 Asiana Airline crash in San Francisco, for example, experts credited flame retardant materials with helping passengers survive the crash.
Transportationįrom airplanes to cars to trains, flame retardants can play a key role in protecting travelers from the devastation of fire. The addition of flame retardants to the material fillings and fibers used in furnishings helps provide individuals with an extra layer of fire protection and can increase critical escape time in case of a fire. Building and Construction Materialsįlame retardants used in a variety of building and construction materials in homes, offices and public buildings, including schools and hospitals, can provide increased fire safety protection. Electronics and Electrical Devicesįlame retardants can enable modern electronic equipment, like televisions and computers, to meet fire safety standards and can be vital to the safety of hundreds of these products. Today, flame retardants are typically used in four major areas: electronics, building and construction materials, furnishings and transportation. The use of flame retardants is especially important today, as the large volume of electrical and electronic equipment in today’s buildings, coupled with a larger volume of combustible materials, can increase the potential for fire hazardsįlame retardants provide consumers with a critical layer of fire protection and can be vital to reducing the risks associated with fire. Fire Administration 1 and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2, in 2019 an estimated 1.3 million fires were reported in the United States, causing 3,700 civilian fire deaths, 16,600 civilian injuries and $14.8 billion in property damage. When added to different products and materials, ranging from electronic devices to furniture, flame retardants can help prevent fires from starting or limit their spread.Īccording to the U.S.
0 kommentar(er)
