DEROCA · Development of safe and eco-friendly flame retardant materials based on CNT co-additives for commodity polymers

Currently, best flame retardant formulations are still often based on halogenated flame retardants (FR). Those halogneted FR are supsected to endcrine disrupters when leaching from the material and produce toxic fumes and acids (HBr, HCl, organoirritants, PCDD/Fs etc.).DEROCA project aims at (i) developing and introducing new safer and more eco-friendly FRs through exploiting the synergistic effect of carbon nanotubes with phosphorus based flame retardants and other new promising additives in intumescent or carbon crust formation systems by promoting a more efficient/cost competitive solution; (ii) developing small scale test methods and models to predict full end product standard scale test results based on small scalte tests.The approach will be multifaceted: (i) to better understand and promote interactions between CNT and different (FR) additives; (ii) to develop FR applications for five final products which represent large volumes of commodity polymers, i.e. automotive industry, wire and cable, industrial packaging and foam; (iii) to demonstrate and to assess fire performance of end-products, including fire toxicity; (iv) to develop models for the prediction of fire classification of materials based on small scale tests; (v) to introduce small scale test methods and models developed into international standardization; (vi) to assess the mechanical and other product specific essential properties of the FR polymer; (vii) to assess toxcicity and environmental impact of the FRs developed both in the production chain and in the end use product; (ix) to assess the overall envrionmental impact of the Frs developed FRs through LCA.