Number

051-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

A review of alternate flame retardant technologies including information about flame retardant currently in use, alternatives to these available on the market as well as future solutions that might become available in a few years. Information is divided into product categories ranging from textiles to furniture and electronics. The basis of this case study is a report prepared for the Department of Environment, Foods and Rural Affairs (UK).

Substituted substances

Reliability of information

Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed

Reason substitution

physical hazards
ecotoxicity
CMR

Other type of alternative

Many of the alternatives mentioned in the report are non-chemical alternatives. Many of the alternatives are also very broad substance groups and are therefore not mentioned as single substances.

Hazard Assessment

Substance to be substituted: DecaBDE is a Substance of very high concern and is included on the REACH candidate list for authorization, according to Article 59 of Regulation (EG) No. 1907/2006(REACH Regulation). It also fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) is a Substance of very high concern and is included on the REACH candidate list for authorization, according to Article 59 of Regulation (EG) No. 1907/2006(REACH Regulation). It also fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), according to the IARC Monographs. It fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Alternative substances: There is no further information about the alternatives. A complete hazard assessment could not be performed since the methods described in the document are so many and only described in a much generalised way. Be sure to seek additional information before implementing any of the methods described here. » Check the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC)

Description of Substitution

In this report a great number of alternatives have been described, some of these are chemical in nature and some are technical. The different fire retardants described have been grouped by application, e.g. furniture, furnishings, foams and filling materials. In this summary, only the names of the techniques will be described. For further information, please consult the original document. The techniques suggested to replace brominated flame retardants are: Nano composites (under research), inherently fire-resistant polymers and fibres, fibre blending, design for increased fire-resistance, phosphorus-based chemical finishes, phosphorus and nitrogen based durable finishes, fire-blockers and interlines, covering fabrics. One area where fire-retardants are used extensively is in printed circuit boards. Chemical alternatives to this use presented in the report are: phosphorus in various forms, hydrated metal hydroxide and nitrogen containing organics. All of these examples come with their own limitations and drawbacks. Since advantages and disadvantages are most often linked to the specific area of the substitution, these will not be presented here. They are however present in the original report.

Case/substitution evaluation

Since the different methods and chemicals used as alternatives to halogenated flame retardants are so many and diverse it is hard to do a complete hazard assessment of all of them. Another difficulty is that they differ widely in their state of implementation. Some have been used for a long time while others are new techniques presented by current research. Alternatives to halogenated flame retardants are needed and some of the alternatives described here could be suitable for eliminating halogenated flame retardants from the market. Since specific information on the alternatives presented here is lacking however, the methods described here should be used as inspiration rather

State of implementation

Partial capacity

Availability ofAlternative

Most of the alternatives are available on the market. A few of the alternatives presented are currently under development and are not commercially available.

Type of information supplier

Authority
Research

Contact

The report was completed for the British department of Environment, food and rural affairs by GnoSys UK Ltd in association with the University of Bolton and Oakdene Hollins Ltd. http://www.defra.gov.uk/

Type of publication and availability

Freely available

Publication source: author, company, institute, year

The report was completed for the British department of Environment, food and rural affairs by GnoSys UK Ltd in association with the University of Bolton and Oakdene Hollins Ltd. Authors: Professor Gary Stevens (GnoSys), Dr Alan Emsley (GnoSys), Dr Linda Lim (GnoSys), Professor Baljinder Kandola (University of Bolton) and Professor Dick Horrock (University of Bolton). Year: November 2010 http://www.defra.gov.uk/

Publication source

Type of publication and availability

http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=EV0432_9849_FRA.pdf

Date, reviewed

December 11, 2020