New Non-Halogenated FR Compound for Flexible Films/Rigid Parts

Published: October 08, 2019

Dynamic Modifiers, LLC has officially introduced its new PAL...VersaCHARTM a state-of–the-art non-halogenated compound where the company will pursue demanding industrial and commercial uses. The compound is at the ultimate of what’s currently available in the flame retardant market. Flame causes char bodies to rapidly form on the compound surface, protecting against additional flame and delaying heat transfer. Tested to 1,950 ⁰ C (highest to date) with no polymer flaming drips.  The compound has passed ASTM E84 (Class A) with a 15/10 rating, which includes “clean” smoke generation of only 2.3 percent of allowable ASTM smoke limits.

In addition to the above attributes, the compound is light-weight at 1.0 specific gravity, 100 percent non-toxic in every respect, including heavy metals, halogens or VOC’s, fully sustainable and LEED’s capable.  Other properties include, excellent cold crack performance, hydrophobic, printable, extreme chemical resistance and able to be custom tailored for specific needs e.g. UV or antimicrobial uses as volume warrants.

The PAL...VersaCHAR compound can be produced as a flexible film, sheet, coated fabric, molded to shape or over-molded to most materials including metal for corrosion resistance.  Being a polymeric compound it can be cast or calendered.  Typical durometers from 80-99A for flexible up to highly rigid formats are practical.  Separately an adhesive was created which bonds to many surfaces.  In internal evaluations of two laminated plies of woven carbon fiber and two plies of fiberglass fabrics both passed a 60 second vertical burn with no ply separation, distortion or flaming drips from the adhesive.

A significant advantage of PAL...VersaCHAR is it doesn’t exhibit either a fast or slow continuous burning, but instead, surface chars quickly which prevents flame spread and rapid self- extinguishing burn behavior, protecting any underlying substrate to which it is adhered.  For use in many industries from aerospace, interior spaces to the protection of rigid structural materials such as building interiors or on ships, valuable assets and military to name a few. Especially advantageous in protecting spaces where people gather.