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What are the main ingredients of Flame Retardant Masterbatch for Forming XPS?
Flame retardant masterbatch is an important agent used to make extruded polystyrene (XPS) boards. Its main components depend on the fire rating and process requirements of practical applications. Most of the flame retardant masterbatches used in this world are mainly organic phosphorus flame retardants, and inorganic substances are used to help the effect. Brominated flame retardants were popular in the past, but due to environmental concerns, they were gradually replaced by phosphorus. Phosphorus flame retardants such as ammonium tripolyphosphate (APP) and phosphate esters can help to produce a dense carbon layer when the material burns, isolate oxygen, and stop the spread of fire. Its main component is sometimes added with antimony trioxide to enhance the synergistic flame retardant effect. The reason is that antimony trioxide and the main agent work synergistically to make the flame retardant function more significant.
In addition, more carrier resins are added to the flame retardant masterbatch, so that the main agent is evenly distributed in polystyrene. Common carriers are polyethylene, polypropylene and other compatible resins. In order to facilitate uniform mixing, surfactants or dispersants are occasionally used to ensure that the flame retardant components are fully dispersed. Some formulations still have inorganic fillers such as talc and silicate, which are not only flame retardant, but also can improve material strength and reduce costs.
When the masterbatch is made, its proportion arrangement is particularly delicate. The content of the main agent ranges from 5% to 30% of the total, depending on the flame retardant grade of the downstream finished product. For environmental protection and safety regulations, more halogen-free flame retardant masterbatches have been taken in recent years to reduce the precipitation of harmful gases, which is in line with green production methods. The flame retardant masterbatch as a whole has a delicate structure, coordinated and orderly, which not only guarantees the physical properties of the material, but also has excellent flame retardant characteristics.
In summary, the main components of the special flame retardant masterbatch for XPS molding are covered with organophosphorus flame retardants as the main material, supplemented by inorganic synergistic agents, carrier resins and several inorganic fillers. According to each function, the safety and fire protection work together. The environment and process migrate over time, but the basic structure is roughly like this.
How to use Flame Retardant Masterbatch for Forming XPS?
Flame Retardant Masterbatch is actually a fireproof masterbatch, specially used in the preparation of XPS (extruded polystyrene foam). Its usage is correct, and it must be followed according to regulations to ensure the safety and performance of the finished product. At the beginning of the operation, the main agent needs to be blended with XPS raw materials and blended in proportion. The general dosage depends on the fire protection requirements, often in percentages. When weighing, it should be fine. If it is too much, the performance will be damaged. If it is too little, it will be difficult to prevent fire. It is better to use a high-efficiency agitator to make the masterbatch and raw material particles evenly distributed, without agglomeration or segregation. Due to good dispersion, the function of the fireproof agent can be fully exerted. If an automatic metering device is used to simultaneously add according to the production rhythm, it is particularly ideal, which saves effort and increases efficiency. After mixing, it is sent to the extruder and heated to a suitable temperature, generally 170 to 210 degrees Celsius, so that the raw material melts and the masterbatch is fully combined with the matrix, and the structure is uniform. Slowly extrude, not in a hurry, to prevent the material properties from not being recognized and becoming waste. During production, the uniformity of the melt must be monitored at all times, and the fire resistance of the finished product should be checked regularly to ensure that each batch of products complies with regulations and standards.
In case of uneven particle size, abnormal color, and strange smell, it is advisable to stop the machine immediately, overhaul the equipment, and reflect on the process. The operating place should be clean and ventilated, and the humidity and temperature should be properly controlled to prevent the raw materials from being damp and agglomerated, which will affect the dispersion and performance. The storage masterbatch must be sealed, moisture-proof, heat-proof and sun-proof, and stored in a ventilated and cool place to avoid storage with organic solvents and strong oxidizing agents.
The formula should not be changed lightly. The brand and type of fireproof masterbatch must be coordinated with the raw materials to ensure the excellent performance of the XPS made. In addition, the operation staff must be well trained to understand the principle of fireproof masterbatch, and to check the safety hazards, so that the process can be stable for a long time. In short, the application of fireproof masterbatch prepared by XPS needs to be cautious, accurate and standardized in order to achieve its full use of fireproof and thermal insulation.
What flame retardant standards can Flame Retardant Masterbatch for Forming XPS meet?
The flame retardant masterbatch is used to form extruded polystyrene (XPS) sheets, and its performance is excellent, which can meet the needs of many flame retardant specifications today. Today, the flame retardant standards it can achieve are briefly described as follows:
First, the European Union EN 13501-1 standard, graded A to E. XPS sheets are added with high-efficiency flame retardant masterbatches, and can often reach B grade or even higher. They have the characteristics of good self-extinguishing, short flame extension, and low smoke density. The testing is mostly based on vertical combustion and horizontal combustion tests. The combustion rate is very low, and the flame does not spread. The flue gas release also meets the specifications and meets the safety requirements of modern building materials.
Second, the Chinese national standard GB 8624 is used to evaluate the combustion performance of building materials and is divided into grades A to E. After the formula of the flame retardant masterbatch is optimized, XPS can reach B1 level, which is a refractory material. Self-extinguishing after flame contact, long-term exposure does not help flame retardation, and is widely used in external walls and insulation layers that require high flame retardant performance. Some special formulas can reach A2 level, which is comparable to materials with higher safety grades.
Third, the US ASTM E84 standard, the "tunnel test method", is evaluated by the combustion diffusion index (FSI) and smoke density development (SDI), and is divided into Class A, B, and C grades. XPS boards made of qualified flame retardant masterbatch can often rank among Class A. The performance is that the flame spread speed is extremely slow and the amount of smoke released is limited, which is helpful for the safety of large public buildings and high-rise projects.
In addition, in other parts of the world, such as Japan JIS A1321, UK BS 476 and Australia AS 1530, the XPS included in the flame retardant masterbatch can also pass the relevant tests smoothly. Among them, flame retardation, combustion slowdown, and smoke toxicity reduction are all the focus of evaluation. The newly environmentally friendly type of flame retardant masterbatch attaches great importance to halogen-free and low toxicity. In addition to high efficiency flame retardant, it also meets the new standards for green building materials.
In summary, the flame retardant masterbatch is used for XPS molding, which can meet the mainstream flame retardant standards at home and abroad such as European EN 13501 B, Chinese GB 8624 B1, and American ASTM E84 Class A, meeting the security needs of a variety of construction and industrial applications. It is a powerful tool to escort modern building materials.
Does the Flame Retardant Masterbatch for Forming XPS affect the physical properties of XPS sheets?
The flame retardant masterbatch is used in the molding of extruded polystyrene sheet (XPS), which can enhance its fire resistance, make it refractory in case of fire, and improve its self-extinguishing property. However, the physical properties of the sheet are also affected to a certain extent. The cover XPS sheet is mainly made of polystyrene resin, supplemented by foaming agent, stabilizer and other additives, and is extruded and foamed at high temperature. The structure is compact, with excellent thermal insulation, compression resistance and stability. However, the flame retardant masterbatch is mostly composed of bromine, phosphorus or inorganic flame retardants. Adding it makes it easy to change the compatibility and crystallinity of the polymer matrix.
The flame retardant is integrated into the matrix, which interferes with the arrangement of polystyrene chain segments. Looking at its expansion structure, it can be seen that the cell size may change, the distribution is no longer uniform, and even the closed cell rate decreases. Therefore, its compressive strength may be slightly reduced, and the water absorption rate will increase slightly. If the masterbatch is poorly dispersed, it is prone to agglomeration, and a heterogeneous phase will be formed inside the plate, resulting in further decline in mechanical properties. Brominated flame retardants are still very poor. When added in extreme amounts, the brittleness of the material may increase and the impact toughness will decrease. If the carrier resin contained in it is incompatible with the main material, the interface will peel and the physical quality will be weakened.
If the flame retardant system is reasonably selected, the ratio is controlled, and the process is finely optimized, the negative impact can be greatly alleviated. For example, the use of synergistic agents and main flame retardants is compounded to improve the dispersibility and reduce the dosage, which not only maintains flame retardancy, but also protects physical properties. Nanomaterials are also used as inorganic flame retardants, which have good dispersibility and can reduce the damage to the properties of the matrix. In general, although flame retardant masterbatches have an impact on the physical properties of XPS sheets, their advantages and disadvantages can be greatly reduced. Only by weighing the trade-offs between scientific processes can we achieve both safety and performance, and achieve both.
What types of XPS production lines is Flame Retardant Masterbatch for Forming XPS suitable for?
The flame retardant masterbatch is used to give the flame retardant properties of extruded polystyrene board (XPS), which is the essence of modern polymer material modification technology. Its applicable production lines are covered with different types, which cannot be generalized. According to the outline, the suitable models and their applications are described in detail:
Today's XPS production line is mainly divided into CO ² physical foaming type and chemical foaming agent type. The CO ² foaming line uses carbon dioxide as the main foaming agent, is environmentally friendly and efficient, and has a high degree of automation. It often uses advanced equipment at home and abroad, such as twin-screw extruders, sheet forming cooling devices, etc. The flame retardant masterbatch has stable properties and uniform particle size. It can be directly mixed with the resin and dispersed by screw shearing. The flame retardant can fully penetrate the molecular chain structure of polystyrene to achieve the ideal flame retardant effect. In the chemical foaming agent production line, isopentane, butane, etc. are often used as foaming sources, which decompose and release gas under the action of heat to form uniform bubbles. This kind of process requires higher dispersion and thermal stability of the flame retardant masterbatch, but modern high-performance flame retardant masterbatch can be compatible with it, and it is not easy to precipitate and settle.
The old single-screw XPS production line, although the structure is relatively simple and the operation is flexible, but the screw shearing force is slightly inferior, so the flame retardant masterbatch dispersion requirements are extremely strict. However, the flame retardant masterbatch with finer particle size and more active composition can also achieve excellent flame retardant effect. In the case of a modern production line with high automation and fast board speed, the thermal decomposition temperature, compatibility and rheology of the flame retardant masterbatch need to be optimized to avoid affecting the foaming, shaping and apparent quality of the board. No matter whether it is a domestic or imported production line, the unit can ensure that the masterbatch is evenly dispersed under high temperature and high pressure, and such flame retardant masterbatch can be adopted. If different models of continuous foaming or batch intermittent foaming are used, as long as the process parameters are properly adjusted, the flame retardant masterbatch can exhibit ideal flame retardant and physical properties, and cooperate with the main material to meet the requirements of fire protection regulations.
In summary, flame retardant masterbatch is suitable for all kinds of XPS production lines, including but not limited to single-screw, twin-screw, CO ² physical foaming and chemical foaming units. Only by combining the characteristics of production line equipment, process details, and precise selection can it be used to its fullest potential and is widely used in modern thermal insulation fields.