Swedish specialty chemicals company Perstorp (www.perstorp.com) has launched a fire-retardant polyol grade for thermoplastics. The new grade is part of the “Charmor” range of intumescent products, which until recently were used mainly for intumescent coatings.

Charmor intumescent products work by creating a carbon foam barrier when exposed to fire. The barrier helps prevent the propagation of fire by slowing down combustion, reducing heat and smoke release rates and reducing melt dripping. Charmor PP100 has a lower melting point than most thermoplastic processing temperatures, and is non-hazardous and heavy-metal free, Perstorp says. Using the product instead of mineral-based flame retardants allows the use of more lightweight plastic, it adds.

“Being a polymer, Charmor PP100 becomes part of the polymeric system of the plastic,” says David James, market development manager at Perstorp. Charmor PP100 is compliant with the EU’s RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directives. The new grade will be particularly suitable for plastic products used in the electrical, electronic and transportation sectors, Perstorp says.