Halogen-free flame retardants and halogenated flame retardants have significant differences in many aspects, mainly reflected in components, hazards, advantages and application fields, etc.
First, the difference in ingredients
Halogen-containing flame retardants: These flame retardants mainly contain halogen elements such as chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), fluorine (F), etc. They usually exist in the form of halogen-containing polymers or flame retardant mixtures combined with halogen-containing flame retardants. Among them, the common brominated antimony grade flame retardants are composed of antimony trioxide and decabromodiphenyl ether.
Halogen-free flame retardants: Unlike halogenated flame retardants, halogen-free flame retardants do not contain halogen elements. They are mainly composed of compounds made up of elements such as phosphorus, nitrogen and silicon, such as phosphorus-based flame retardants, nitrogen-based flame retardants and silicon-based flame retardants. These flame retardants do not produce toxic hydrogen halide gas during the combustion process.
Second, the distinction of harm
Halogenated flame retardants: Materials made with halogenated flame retardants will produce a large amount of smoke and toxic corrosive hydrogen halide gas when heated. These smoke and toxic gases can cause secondary harm to human health and the environment. Especially when a fire occurs, the release of these harmful substances will aggravate the severity of the disaster.
Halogen-free flame retardants: In contrast, halogen-free flame retardants produce less smoke during combustion and do not generate toxic or corrosive gases. This makes halogen-free flame retardants have significant advantages in terms of environmental protection and safety.
Third, the difference in advantages
Halogenated flame retardants: These flame retardants are low in price, have good stability, require a small addition amount, and can maintain the original physical and chemical properties of flame retardant products. They have good compatibility with synthetic resin materials and high flame-retardant efficiency, and thus have been widely used in history.
Halogen-free flame retardants: Although halogen-free flame retardants are relatively expensive, their advantages in terms of environmental protection and safety have made them increasingly valued in modern industry. Halogen-free flame retardants produce little smoke when burning, are non-toxic and harmless, and meet the environmental protection requirements of modern society. In addition, some halogen-free flame retardants also have good dispersibility and compatibility, and are easy to be evenly distributed in materials, thereby enhancing the flame retardant effect.
Fourth, the difference in application fields
Halogenated flame retardants: Although halogenated flame retardants have shortcomings in terms of environmental protection and safety, they are still used in some fields with high cost requirements due to their low price and good flame retardant effect. However, with the increasingly strict environmental protection regulations and the improvement of people’s environmental awareness, the application scope of halogenated flame retardants is gradually being restricted.
Halogen-free flame retardants: Halogen-free flame retardants have been widely used in modern industry due to their environmental protection and safety advantages. They are widely used in multiple fields such as wires and cables, electronic components, building materials, and textiles to enhance the flame retardant performance of these materials. With the continuous advancement of technology and the gradual reduction of costs, the application scope of halogen-free flame retardants will continue to expand.
To sum up, halogen-free flame retardants and halogenated flame retardants have significant differences in terms of composition, hazards, advantages and application fields. In modern industry, with increasingly strict environmental protection regulations and the improvement of people’s environmental awareness, halogen-free flame retardants are gradually replacing halogenated flame retardants to become the mainstream choice.
