Flame retardants

MelaminebyDSM™ and its derivatives are suitable to enhance the flame-retardant (FR) properties of your polyurethane foams, intumescent paints and other coatings, textiles and plastics.
Melamine-based flame-retardants are considered to be more environmentally benign than conventional halogen-based flame-retardants.

Benefits of melamine based flame retardants

• Environmentally friendly, halogen-free FR formulations
• Cost effective across a wide range of applications
• Safe storage and handling
• Low smoke evolution and density
• Low corrosion
  

Typical applications for FR include:

• Domestic appliances
• Television sets
• Soft furnishings
• Hospital and hotel mattresses
• Public seating (e.g. theatres and public transport)
• Furniture
• Fire doors
• Intumescent paints
• Ventilation ducts and shutters
• Floor coverings

More information on the Safety & Health aspects of melamine-based flame-retardants.

For more information on how to process and handle melamine in flame-retardants, you can contact our experts at the DSM Melamine Skill Center.

When melamine is exposed to heat and flames it decomposes, absorbing heat and creating a cooling effect. The time to ignition is delayed significantly as nitrogen, liberated by melamine during its decomposition, dilutes the oxygen which, in turn, inhibits the spread of flames and the generation of smoke.

When melamine-based flame-retardant (intumescent) coatings are exposed to fire they degrade. As melamine also acts as a blowing agent a stable, insulating charred foam layer is formed. As a result the substrate material beneath the charred foam layer is protected from damaging heat (for example by delaying the time for a steel construction to collapse), thus extending potential escape time.