Phosphate Ester Flame Retardants and their applications
Aryl Phosphates and Bisphosphates
The aromatic phosphate esters which include the aryl and bisphosphate range combine flame retardancy with plasticizing properties and have many applications in the flame retarding of plastics, particularly PVC (aryls) and engineering resins (bisphosphates).
Flame retarded PVC is used in industrial film and sheeting, flooring, wire and cable, industrial wall coverings and automotive upholstery.
Alkyl Phosphates
In general the trialkyl phosphate esters offer a combination of viscosity modification and flame retardancy and as such are used in markets such as lube oil additives, synthetic lubricants and rigid polyurethane foams, where a key benefit is that of viscosity modification.
Chlorinated Phosphates
The main application for chlorinated phosphate esters is the flame retarding of both rigid and flexible polyurethane foam. Flame retarded flexible polyurethane foam is predominantly used in upholstered furniture, bedding and automobile interiors while rigid foam is employed in the building industry where it offers insulation properties combined with lightness and flexibility of use.
