Non-BDE brominated FRs for flexible foams.

A new brominated flame retardant for mechanically cooled, flexible PUR foams is intended to replace pentabrominated diphenyl ether (penta-BDE), which will be banned in California and the European Union. Firemaster 552 from Great Lakes Chemical Corp., Indianapolis, is a proprietary phosphorus-bromine FR not based on BDE chemistry. It recently received a favorable environmental assessment from the U.S. EPA. Great Lakes, the only U.S. producer of penta-BDE, will phase it out this year.

Firemaster 552 is said to offer the advantages of penta-BDE (sold as DE-62 FR), including resistance to foam discoloration and smoldering ignition, little effect on foam physical properties, and excellent hydrolytic stability. Firemaster 552 is also said to prevent foam degradation during mechanical air cooling, thus reducing waste.

Firemaster 552 reportedly offers benefits over chlorinated phosphates like TDCP (tris-dichloropropyl phosphate), which are the most common flame retardants in flexible foams. Firemaster 552 and TDCP are said to be similar in efficiency in the open-flame Cal 117 Part-Atest. However, foams with Firemaster 552 have better load-bearing and compression-set properties due to less plasticizing action, Great Lakes reports. Unlike TDCP, it does not contribute to foam scorching. Foams with Firemaster 552 have been shown to perform better in the smoldering test (Cal 117 part D) than TDCP foams, particularly at higher densities. Firemaster 552 is also lower in viscosity than TDCP, which makes it easier to pump, and it does not freeze like TDCP, which solidifies at 10 C. Meanwhile, TDCP is undergoing EU risk assessment. Tel: [phone], www.greatlakes.com

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]