TY - BOOK
T1 - Fire retardant wood, polymer and textile materials
AU - Sarvaranta, Leena
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Worldwide, the consumption of flame and fire retardants
in combustible materials and products is closely linked
to regulations covering fire precautions. The total US
market for flame retardant chemicals was estimated at $
513 million in 1993. In 1991 the US consumption was
estimated at 300,000 t. Plastics used some 77% of all
flame retardants. Roughly 9% of sales were to the wood
and paper industries, 8% to the coatings industry, and 6%
to the textile industry. In Western Europe, the total
annual consumption of aluminium hydroxide, antimony
trioxide and boron flame retardants has been estimated at
60,000 - 70,000 t. In Japan annual consumption of
aluminium hydroxide has been estimated to 20,000 - 30,000
t. Annual consumption of fire retardant chemicals for
textile fibres in the USA, Japan and the EU amounts to
40,000 - 50,000 t.
No single mechanism explains the action of all fire
retardants. Evidence suggests that most fire retardants
reduce combustible volatiles production and limit
combustion to the solid phase. The best retardants also
inhibit solid-phase oxidation to effectively remove the
fuel from the fire.
There is an ongoing debate over the possible risks of
halogenated, especially brominated, fire retardants.
Certain chloroparaffins and antimony trioxide have also
been mentioned but the main impact lies on the PBBs and
PBDEs. Another factor potentially affecting the market
for halogenated fire retardants is the waste disposal of
treated materials and products. The ease or difficulties
of recycling also have a potential effect on the use of
fire retardants.
In future further work will be necessary on the
fundamental mechanisms of individual fire retardants.
These mechanisms are a function of the particular
chemicals involved and the environmental conditions of
the fire exposure. In particular, improved leach
resistance will be necessary to expand wood products into
public buildings. Life cycle analyses are needed to
ensure the market potential of new fire retardant
products. The goal of using environmentally friendly fire
retardant systems is a worthy objective. Perceivement of
this by the consumer should in turn lead to a greater
market share for companies that demonstrate their
initiative and expertise in the environmental field.
AB - Worldwide, the consumption of flame and fire retardants
in combustible materials and products is closely linked
to regulations covering fire precautions. The total US
market for flame retardant chemicals was estimated at $
513 million in 1993. In 1991 the US consumption was
estimated at 300,000 t. Plastics used some 77% of all
flame retardants. Roughly 9% of sales were to the wood
and paper industries, 8% to the coatings industry, and 6%
to the textile industry. In Western Europe, the total
annual consumption of aluminium hydroxide, antimony
trioxide and boron flame retardants has been estimated at
60,000 - 70,000 t. In Japan annual consumption of
aluminium hydroxide has been estimated to 20,000 - 30,000
t. Annual consumption of fire retardant chemicals for
textile fibres in the USA, Japan and the EU amounts to
40,000 - 50,000 t.
No single mechanism explains the action of all fire
retardants. Evidence suggests that most fire retardants
reduce combustible volatiles production and limit
combustion to the solid phase. The best retardants also
inhibit solid-phase oxidation to effectively remove the
fuel from the fire.
There is an ongoing debate over the possible risks of
halogenated, especially brominated, fire retardants.
Certain chloroparaffins and antimony trioxide have also
been mentioned but the main impact lies on the PBBs and
PBDEs. Another factor potentially affecting the market
for halogenated fire retardants is the waste disposal of
treated materials and products. The ease or difficulties
of recycling also have a potential effect on the use of
fire retardants.
In future further work will be necessary on the
fundamental mechanisms of individual fire retardants.
These mechanisms are a function of the particular
chemicals involved and the environmental conditions of
the fire exposure. In particular, improved leach
resistance will be necessary to expand wood products into
public buildings. Life cycle analyses are needed to
ensure the market potential of new fire retardant
products. The goal of using environmentally friendly fire
retardant systems is a worthy objective. Perceivement of
this by the consumer should in turn lead to a greater
market share for companies that demonstrate their
initiative and expertise in the environmental field.
KW - fires
KW - fire resistance
KW - fire prevention
KW - safety engineering
KW - construction materials
KW - fire resistant coatings
KW - wood
KW - polymers
KW - textiles
KW - plastics
M3 - Report
SN - 951-38-4885-X
T3 - VTT Tiedotteita - Meddelanden - Research Notes
BT - Fire retardant wood, polymer and textile materials
PB - VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
CY - Espoo
ER -