Flame retardants for artificial leathers

Artificial leathers are made up of polymers: polyurethane (PU), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and polyesters (PE) (as backing layer) – all are combustible and flammable.  Flammability of polymers consists of 3 phases – the condensed solid stage, the melt-flow liquid phase, and the combustion gaseous phases.  When a polymer encounters a heat source, it melts (or directly pyrolyzes to gas in some thermoset polymers), flows, and decomposes to flammable gases; the gases combines with oxygen in the air and combusts, generating heat and radiant energy which goes back to the condensed phase to continue the cycle of burning the polymer.  Flammability of a polymer normally is measured in term of its Heat Release Rate (HRR); the higher the HRR, the easier the polymer to flame.  

Flame retardants, work by one or combination of 3 mechanisms:  (1) Inhibit combustion at flame front, (2) remove heat from polymer, (3) prevent polymer decomposition / fuel release.  There are a large number of chemicals, organic or inorganic, with diverse flame retarding mode of action.  Choosing a right package of flame retardants for an artificial leather is a complex process; it not only depends on the polymer itself (HRR), but also on  other factors, for examples, mode of action, reactivity with the polymer, workability, dispersibility in the polymer, specific performance requirements, health and environment impact, and cost, etc.  

Flame retardants are normally added, as liquid, powder or dispersion during manufacturing.  A flame retardant can be crafted onto the raw materials (such as in the PUD resin, in the fabrics), or can be added to any of the layers (skin, foam body, tie or the back coats) of the artificial leather.  Flame retardants for artificial leathers, synthetics or textiles, generally fall into several chemical categories (as additives or as reactive oligomers with the polymeric backbone): halogenated (chlorinated, brominated, or hybrids with others) compounds, phosphorus compounds (additive or reactive), nitrogen containing compounds, and inorganics.   We supply a series of flame retardants to provide good flame retardancy for artificial leathers.  Since each artificial leather is unique in its chemistry, manufacturing process and requirement of passing certain tests (for examples:  Ignition Resistance, Flame Spread, Heat Output, Structural Integrity Under Fire and Heat, Smoke/Toxic Gas Output, etc.), there is no universal approach in selecting flame retardants for artificial leathers.  Please contact us so that we can recommend a package which can meet your performance needs.  Click below to check out our flame retardants for artificial leathers.