There are many classes of compounds which are useful as flame retardants. While currently a small part of this large market, Magnesium Hydroxide is attracting attention because of its performance, price, low corrosiveness, and low toxicity. The current market for magnesium hydroxide in flame retardants is about ten million pounds per year, with the potential to surpass thirty million pounds per year in the near future.
Mg(OH)2 is used as an FR in commercial furniture applications in the United States and in commercial and residential furniture in the United Kingdom (Fire Retardant Chemicals Association 1998). The stability of Mg(OH)2 at temperatures above 300°C allows it to be incorporated into several polymers (IPCS 1997). Market-volume data published in 1993 suggest increasing the use of Mg(OH)2 as a FR. About 2,000 and 3,000 tons of Mg(OH)2 were marketed as an FR in the United States in 1986 and 1993, respectively (IPCS 1997).
Magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), is an acid- and halogen-free flame retardant for various plastics. Magnesium hydroxide has a 100oC higher decomposition temperature than ATH, allowing a higher processing temperature in compounding and extruding the plastic. Also, magnesium hydroxide adsorbs more energy during the decomposition process.
Magnesium hydroxide acts as a flame retardant and smoke suppressor in plastics mainly by withdrawing heat from the plastic during its decomposition into magnesium oxide and water. The water vapor that is generated dilutes the fuel supply to the flame. Decomposition products insulate the plastic from heat and produce char that impedes the flow of potentially flammable gases to the flame.
For a flame retardant to be useful in compounded plastics, it must not degrade the physical properties of the plastic. In a typical flexible wire PVC formulation, ZEHUI CHEM' was found to slightly improve the physical properties of the PVC formulation compared to ATH and a competing, higher grade magnesium hydroxide.
Post time: Sep-28-2022