Years ago, fires shaped cities and communities. From early settlements to modern suburbs, people knew that flammable materials could turn comfortable spaces into disaster zones overnight. Efforts to control fires led to clay-lined chimneys and thicker brick walls, but materials technology drove the next leap forward. Chemists started to seek compounds that could interrupt burning: salts, borax, even blood mixtures in the olden days. By the 1970s, plastics and synthetic fibers filled homes, and fires burned hotter and faster. Companies introduced flame retardants based on halogens and phosphates to protect everyday objects, yet those new chemicals brought their own headaches including smoke toxicity and environmental persistence. Policymakers began to ask tough questions about trade-offs. Into this landscape, chemists from Clariant and other suppliers developed novel phosphorus-based solutions, such as Exolit OP 1400, to break the cycle of harmful byproducts.
Talking about Exolit OP 1400 means looking under the hood of modern flame retarding. This product falls into the category of organophosphorus-based, halogen-free additives. Breaking it down, it primarily functions in polyolefin plastics, such as polypropylene compounds found in car parts, electrical housings, and numerous consumer gadgets. Unlike brominated flame retardants, OP 1400 avoids the problem of toxic smoke or regulatory restrictions in the EU and North America. In day-to-day use, OP 1400 appears as a white powder—fine, not too dusty, making it practical for many manufacturing processes. Its stability during high-heat processing stands out compared to traditional phosphate esters, showing resistance to hydrolysis and staying effective after repeated temperature exposure.
Looking closer at its makeup, Exolit OP 1400’s core component is aluminum diethyl phosphinate, a chemical compound containing both phosphorus and nitrogen elements. Physically, it resists moisture uptake, clumps far less than some previous flame-retardant powders, and settles into plastics cleanly. It packs a phosphorus content near 23% by mass and an aluminum content in the 13-15% range, based on manufacturer technical sheets. Fineness matters here: the average particle size hangs around 15-20 microns, which helps it disperse evenly in molten plastics at 220-260°C processing windows. Labeling follows international norms, with the product typically assigned CAS number 225789-38-8, warning of possible irritation but not flagged as carcinogenic under GHS.
Manufacturing Exolit OP 1400 rests on combining diethyl phosphinic acid with an aluminum source in wet-phase or solution methods, followed by precipitation, washing, and carefully controlled drying. The process avoids halogenated intermediates or persistent organics, which helps prevent contamination of finished plastics. On the chemical front, phosphinates act mostly in the condensed phase during combustion: as the material is heated, OP 1400 decomposes to form a char barrier, while aluminum boosts this action by generating stable metal phosphates. Fine-tuning the surface of each powder particle through post-synthesis silanization or other coatings allows compatibility tweaks depending on whether you want the additive inside glass-reinforced or unfilled compounds.
On global markets, Exolit OP 1400 pops up with several aliases. Some might find it listed as aluminum diethylphosphinate, or ADEPI. Product codes vary—HaiNing Chem, for example, calls it Diethylphosphinic acid, aluminum salt. In Japan and the US, local resellers may append their own internal catalog numbers. Yet, consistency matters here: one glance at CAS 225789-38-8 or the phrase “halogen-free phosphorus flame-retardant for engineering polyolefins” usually steers you in the right direction.
Any chemical brought near families, workers, or the outdoors deserves scrutiny. Exolit OP 1400 rates as a lower-hazard alternative by today’s chemical safety standards. It resists leaching, throws off little dust, and rates poorly at building up in the food chain—a break from the notorious PBDEs of decades past. Yet, users still need gloves, dust masks, and proper ventilation during material handling. Safety data points to mild skin and eye irritation, especially in fine-powder form. Factory managers look for sharp operational standards: feed systems designed to reduce loss, prompt cleanup during spills, and plenty of documentation to meet REACH or TSCA reporting rules. With the chemical designed to fit into established thermoplastic lines, its safety profile matches modern expectations for industrial hygiene.
My own experience with plastic parts in auto manufacturing and consumer electronics reveals the importance of flame retardants like Exolit OP 1400. Car dashboards, battery casings, household plugs—these all run through regulatory tests like UL 94 V-0, which calls for self-extinguishing when exposed to flame. OP 1400 meets these marks at lower filler loadings compared to older technologies, sparing product designers tricky decisions on material weight and flexibility. Even more, electrical housings inside appliances and servers lean on this additive for fire resistance without chalking up the finished part with heavy metals or banned substances. Demand from EV battery suppliers keeps growing, as lithium-ion packs raise the bar for flame resistance in challenging, vibration-prone settings.
Research runs as a relentless race against new regulations and customer needs. Teams at universities and industrial labs have explored the performance of Exolit OP 1400 in every conceivable combination: filled polypropylene, flame-barrier films, even 3D-printed parts. Published studies from the Journal of Applied Polymer Science and elsewhere compare its fast char formation and the inherently low smoke output with similar grades. Modifiers—whether nano-silica or glass fibers—bring extra reinforcement, kick up mechanical strength, or tune electrical properties without losing flame resistance. Industry’s appetite for thinner, lighter, and more complex shapes encourages further innovation: by customizing surface coatings, suppliers coax even better dispersibility or faster melt flow, all while keeping processing straightforward on high-speed manufacturing lines.
Everyone who saw the fallout from legacy flame retardants like the pentaBDE compounds remembers the big lesson: trade safety in the short-term, and you risk long-term headache. Toxicology reviews show Exolit OP 1400 doesn’t act like older halogenated chemicals. Studies on fish, soil, and mammals flag it for low acute toxicity, moderate biodegradation in the environment, and little evidence for mutagenicity. Yet, nothing in chemical safety is ever set-and-forget. Regular review by groups like the European Chemicals Agency and independent laboratories watches for new exposure risks, especially in recycling and end-of-life management, since plastic waste continues to circle back into finished goods. Living with these materials means honest communication between producers, recyclers, and the public.
The next decade for flame retardants will keep shifting with stricter rules and new battlegrounds—more electric cars, stricter building codes, and the renewable-power boom. End users want every device and housing to be lighter, safer, and easier to recycle. Exolit OP 1400, with its halogen-free backbone and solid mechanical profile, slots cleanly into this push. Market analysts predict steady growth, driven by the EV transition and smart buildings. Beyond improved fire resistance, demand builds for solutions that work in both virgin and recycled plastics, plus the holy grail of full circular economy compatibility. Designers, regulators, and consumers want more than just a tick-box for UL 94. They call for transparency, durability, and a fair shake for worker safety. It’s not just about putting out fires; it’s building a safer, smarter world from the bottom up, one compound and regulation at a time.
Exolit OP1400 names a flame retardant you won’t spot on a hardware store aisle, but it shapes plenty of the world around us. I’ve seen its impact as someone who spent years at a plastics manufacturing plant, watching the panic set in after a near-miss with an overheating cable. Components that can slow or stop a house or a factory from catching fire matter just as much as locks on the front door. Here’s where Exolit OP1400 steps in. Made by Clariant, this chemical ends up in plastic parts that must meet tough fire safety rules. Think power strips, light fixtures, building insulation, and automotive electronics—places where people can’t afford any shortcuts.
Plastics burn easier than most folks realize. Touch a match to old cable insulation, and you’ll see why the electrical industry demands better. Exolit OP1400 works in things like polyamide (nylon) plastics to make them self-extinguishing. No one likes the idea of wires melting or electronics snapping together, then sparking mayhem behind a wall. Products using Exolit OP1400 don’t just melt more slowly. They form a tough, insulating char when hit by flame. That char stops fire in its tracks, keeping it from moving room to room.
Regulators and manufacturers both want less toxic stuff in electronics and building materials. Long gone are the days when companies hid behind “trade secrets” to dodge environmental concerns. Exolit OP1400 contains no halogens, those elements that used to make headlines for polluting rivers and popping up in human blood. Studies have shown that halogen-free flame retardants end up safer for people and the environment. I’ve watched as labs scramble to clear new chemicals for approval, but this one keeps appearing in recycling-friendly products and green building guides.
More plastic recycling actually creates its own headaches. In my experience, older flame retardants sometimes made recycling a frustrating mess, either gumming up machines or creating hazardous byproducts. Exolit OP1400 doesn’t throw these wrenches into the works. Since it won’t corrode the machinery or leach toxic dust, it opens more doors for sustainable recycling of electronic and auto plastic waste. This fits with huge pushes to cut down landfill use and trim back the mountain of e-waste. Cities looking at stricter recycling rules tend to favor components that make sorting and reuse easier.
Even with all these strengths, the road isn’t smooth. Cost stands in the way: specialty chemicals always bring sticker shock, making some business owners hesitate. Most folks want green solutions only so long as their price tags don’t rise. For smaller manufacturers, support for switching materials can seem thin on the ground. Government incentives or clear recycling rules could tip the balance by making flame-retardant choices easier and cheaper. Getting big buyers—like car makers and homebuilders—to ask for safer compounds in their materials creates pressure on the industry to find smart, low-cost solutions.
Exolit OP1400 finds a home in places where fire would do the most damage. It delivers safety without the old baggage of pollution and recycling headaches. The technology makes a real difference behind the scenes, not by grabbing attention, but by quietly preventing disasters in homes, offices, or cars. For real progress, more hands in the supply chain—regulators, engineers, and buyers—could work together to make this kind of innovation affordable for all.
Exolit OP1400 comes onto the scene with a pretty clear task—helping materials withstand fire without dragging along the usual baggage that flame retardants often bring. People usually talk about a product’s chemistry, but the details matter here. Exolit OP1400 relies on an organophosphorus compound in the form of a white, almost chalky powder. No strong odors, no odd stickiness, and it stays steady under most conditions. Unlike halogen-based additives, Exolit avoids the problem of creating toxic or corrosive smoke when things heat up past the comfort zone.
You’ll spot OP1400 most often in plastics and engineering parts, especially those based on polyamide such as PA6 or PA66. The need comes from something basic. Electronics keep getting smaller and more powerful, which means more risk of overheating or short circuits. Car makers, gadget manufacturers, and builders all feel the squeeze from fire codes and insurance demands. Throw in consumer demand for low-toxicity materials, and suddenly a flame retardant that doesn’t cause environmental headaches grabs attention.
The environmental story really bolsters OP1400’s value. Older flame retardants—think brominated or chlorinated compounds—tend to hang around in ecosystems long after their useful life. They sneak into soil and water, show up in wildlife, and some even build up in our bodies. Exolit OP1400 moves away from that mess. It won’t break down into substances that stick around for decades. That’s a major shift, and regulators have started tightening the rules on persistent toxins. When I watch concerns about indoor air quality or recycled plastics, knowing that some components use safer fire protection materials makes a difference.
There’s always a catch: some flame retardants weaken the strength of plastic or make it harder to mold. Exolit OP1400 scores here. It blends right into the base material without wiping out toughness or flexibility. If you’ve ever dealt with fragile plastic switches that break at the worst time, you’ll know why adding something that defends against fire without turning finished products brittle matters. Some rivals demand higher concentrations to work, but OP1400 gets the job done with much less. Lower loading means manufacturers don’t have to compromise the rest of the design.
Some materials just solve one problem and create another. Exolit OP1400 refuses to play that game. Its powder form rarely causes dust issues during mixing, which helps keep factory exposure risks down. It doesn’t leach out of products easily. I’ve seen projects where fire safety is non-negotiable, but nobody wants to handle a substance that winds up in landfill leachate or enters the air at a recycling plant. OP1400’s stability under heat and light helps address both concerns.
No product’s perfect. Additive costs keep rising, and Exolit isn’t cheap compared to some older flame retardants. That said, paying a little more for a safer, cleaner solution often makes sense over the long haul, especially if it saves legal headaches or cleanup costs. Manufacturers keep looking for ways to stretch the benefits even further—lower doses, tougher blends, maybe even broader compatibility with bioplastics down the road.
Fire safety touches almost everything, and new materials need more than just a passing grade. The mix of performance, cleaner chemistry, and practical usability puts Exolit OP1400 ahead of many older solutions. It’s not just about following rules or checking boxes; it’s about trusting that the things we use every day are safer without hidden trade-offs.
People use the term “halogen-free” so often in electronics and plastics, it starts to sound like just another marketing claim. Exolit OP1400 comes up in every conversation about flame retardants for plastics, especially where people want cleaner, safer materials. I have watched engineers make quick decisions based on this badge. They stop reading past the label as soon as they see “halogen-free.” That’s where mistakes happen.
In chemistry, “halogen-free” means no chlorine, fluorine, bromine, or iodine in the formula. It’s important because when halogens burn, they make toxic gases. Think of old cables smoldering in a fire: the thick, poisonous smoke comes from these elements.
Exolit OP1400 comes from a family of organophosphorus flame retardants, made to serve in polyamide and other engineering plastics. The main ingredient list doesn’t mention bromine or other halogens. This alone sets it apart from legacy retardants like deca-BDE, which have become environmental headaches. I looked at Clariant’s own technical sheets—the company behind the Exolit range—and they confirm it: OP1400 is halogen-free. It relies on phosphorus chemistry instead, which works by promoting char formation and cooling the burn, instead of releasing toxic gas clouds.
Having fewer toxic flame byproducts matters. I think back to a factory fire that happened near my hometown. Everyone had to evacuate for days. People finally started asking where all that smoke came from and why the cleanup took so long. A lot of it was due to the old-style, halogen-heavy plastics that burned up and poisoned the air. If those switches and housings had used Exolit OP1400 or something like it, the evacuation might have lasted hours, not days.
But there’s a catch engineers and procurement people run into: halogen-free doesn’t mean risk-free. Phosphorus-based flame retardants bring their own baggage. They can slip out of plastics over many years. In some cases, I have seen companies report worries about environmental buildup. Toxicologists are still piecing together what that means for soil and water, especially as these chemicals pile up from broken consumer goods.
Factories switching from halogenated retardants to Exolit OP1400 sometimes find themselves knee-deep in new questions. Do the new plastics mold as easily as the old ones? Can they handle high heat without breaking down? Surveying people in the field, I hear mixed feedback. Some love the switch—they say it’s safer for workers and neighbors. Others complain about having to change processing temperatures or tweak recipes.
If the goal is safer, cleaner plastics, staying honest about both gains and tradeoffs matters. We want to get away from flame retardants that smoke out entire neighborhoods. At the same time, no one wants to introduce a new issue for landfill operators or recycling plants. So I keep an eye on product reformulations, tougher third-party testing, and policies pressuring manufacturers to look beyond just the “halogen-free” sticker.
After talking to designers and reading through test reports, one thing stands out: don’t just chase buzzwords. Halogen-free flame retardants help cut some of the worst impacts of electrical fires and everyday waste, but they demand attention all the way from the lab to the landfill. Exolit OP1400 clears the halogen bar, but I always urge folks to keep digging deeper—into toxicity, recyclability, and transparency. Big progress comes from real scrutiny, not just better stickers on the box.
Putting Exolit OP1400 to use starts with looking at the setup on the shop floor. This halogen-free flame retardant comes in a powder form, so it plays well with thermoplastics and some thermosets. Too many folks treat specialty chemicals like mystery powders, but if you get your hands dirty and follow some straightforward steps, the headaches get a lot smaller.
I’ve seen plenty of operations where someone dumps a load of dry powder into a hopper and just hopes for the best. That route often leaves streaks and clumps, especially with dusty additives like this one. Anyone who’s mixed a barrel of feedstock by hand knows that adhesives build up in corners and sneak into filters if you’re not careful. Start with pre-blending. Tossing Exolit OP1400 with base resin in a high-speed mixer (think something like a Henschel or a ribbon blender) avoids sudden surge and clouding. Good habits cut out uneven distribution, which always comes back to bite you during extrusion—and nobody wants to see scorched specks in a finished part.
No one enjoys a failed flammability test. Labs will chase down issues in the finished part, but it almost always starts with dosing at the start of the line. A 20-40% loading level works for most applications, especially with glass-reinforced polyamides or polyesters. Tip from experience: if you’re chasing ultra-high flame resistance (that UL 94 V-0 target), edge up towards the higher end. Mixers with gravimetric feeders keep dosing on track batch after batch, saving a lot of wasted product.
Here’s where a lot of processors slip. Push temperatures up too high and you risk early decomposition. I’ve seen lines jam up and release a sniff of phosphorous, which means you’re cooking off your protection. Set those barrel temps lower—starting under 300°C for polyamides keeps the material stable. A small step down in heat, a big win for downstream performance.
Every shift brings its own set of maintenance chores. This powder wants to stick around, leaving residue wherever it settles. Clean out hoppers, screws, and filters after each shift—otherwise, the next production run starts smelling acrid. A vacuum with a proper HEPA filter handles fine particles before they get airborne. Operators should gear up with dust masks and gloves; skin and lungs aren’t meant for chemical exposure, and nobody feels heroic taking time off to see the nurse.
Issues pop up, even after doing everything by the book. I’ve come across parts with surface bloom or plate-out, which signals too much material or poor drying. Dry the powder before use, if the weather’s humid—a simple oven and a moisture analyzer keep disasters at bay. Checking for compatibility with pigments, lubricants, and impact modifiers on a small scale saves headaches down the line. Surprises in the molding machine lead straight to wasted plastic and lost hours.
Exolit OP1400 gives plenty of protection if handled right. Skipping corners on mixing, dosing, or drying just eats into performance and wastes both money and time. A little more care at the start of the shift leads to fewer complaints from the customer, smoother running machines, and parts that stay off the reject pile.
In workshops and labs, folks often look for materials that keep fires from spreading. Exolit OP1400, a popular flame retardant, delivers on this front. It gets used in everything from electronics to furniture foams. These types of chemicals add a lot of value, but working with them means paying close attention to health and safety—something too many leave as an afterthought until problems surface.
Exolit OP1400 mostly comes in powder form. Anyone handling powders like this will tell you: dust in the air brings trouble. Even if it's not known for being toxic, these particles easily reach noses, eyes, and skin. If you skip proper masks or gloves, you’ll find out the hard way how irritating it can get. I’ve seen folks turn red and itchy just from a quick clean-up. Your lungs don’t need a reason to run into problems down the road.
A workshop without proper airflow quickly becomes a risk zone. Routine jobs kick up far more dust than you think. Anyone who says, “It’s just a bit of powder,” is either lucky or hasn’t seen a bad reaction. Get the exhaust fans running and keep them well-maintained. Wear a well-fitting respirator, not those dollar store dust masks. Save your skin and eyes by putting on safety glasses, nitrile gloves, and a lab coat or overalls. Shops that skip these step end up with unnecessary downtime—and sometimes a trip to urgent care.
Tucking the bags away in some dark corner is asking for trouble. This chemical wants to stay dry, with temperatures kept below 30°C. Humidity turns fine powder into clumps—I’ve seen ruined batches after someone left a shed window open on a damp night. Jugs and bags need labels. Stack them carefully. Don’t forget to keep food and drink away; lunch near work benches has more than once ruined someone’s appetite and their Monday.
Dropping an open container or knocking over a bag might seem embarrassing, but it happens often. Grabbing the broom to sweep it up just spreads the dust further. You want to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or damp cloths so nothing gets airborne. After a spill, folks should wash their hands and face with soap and warm water. The difference between a minor mess and a lingering health problem usually sits in those ten cleanup minutes.
Tossing leftover powder down the drain creates a bigger headache for city water systems. Collected Exolit OP1400 should land in sealed waste bins, tagged for hazardous materials disposal. Most towns have rules for getting rid of special chemicals; following those keeps neighbors and local wildlife out of harm’s way.
Some folks roll their eyes at safety meetings and checklists, but after years working in different labs and job sites, the places where people keep up the small habits enjoy fewer accidents and less drama. Training should cover how to spot trouble early, handle accidental contact, and respond to spills—preferably before a real emergency puts those skills to the test. Mistakes with chemicals rarely give second chances, so treating every day as a day to do things right gives people a better shot at staying healthy and productive.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | Phosphonic acid, [[hydroxy(methylamino)methyl]phosphinyl]-, compound with ammonia (1:1) |
| Other names |
Ammonium Polyphosphate (APP) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfleɪm rɪˈtɑːd(ə)nts ˈɛksəʊlɪt oʊ pi wʌn ˈfɔːr hʌndrəd/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 1227360-44-5 |
| Beilstein Reference | 14627122 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:85076 |
| ChEMBL | CHEBI:134831 |
| ChemSpider | 7276829 |
| DrugBank | DB11375 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 03b9ab2c-d293-4fae-b7e3-8b1fbb02d6fb |
| EC Number | 01-2119486772-26-0002 |
| Gmelin Reference | 370366 |
| KEGG | C18518 |
| MeSH | D02.241.223.211.240 |
| PubChem CID | 139617564 |
| RTECS number | VL8225000 |
| UNII | 1351416T79 |
| UN number | 3077 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DTXSID4039204 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C8H18O7P2 |
| Molar mass | 1100 g/mol |
| Appearance | White powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.4 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | insoluble |
| log P | 2.4 |
| Vapor pressure | < 0.0001 Pa (20 °C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 13.1 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 11.3 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | Diamagnetic |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.70 |
| Viscosity | Viscosity: < 50 mPa·s (23 °C) |
| Dipole moment | 0 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 94 J/(mol·K) |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -1286 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -17.9 MJ/kg |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| GHS labelling | GHS07, GHS08 |
| Pictograms | GHS07,GHS08 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H319: Causes serious eye irritation. |
| Precautionary statements | P261, P264, P272, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P333+P313, P362+P364 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-1-0 |
| Flash point | > 250 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | 410 °C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): >5000 mg/kg LD50 (dermal, rat): >2000 mg/kg LC50 (inhalation, rat, 4 h): >5.0 mg/l |
| LD50 (median dose) | > 5000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| NIOSH | 84852 |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible) of product Flame Retardants Exolit OP1400: Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | 0.1 – 1.0% |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Exolit OP1230 Exolit OP1312 Exolit OP945 Exolit OP930 Exolit OP1240 |
