Number

080-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

A surface coating consisting of fire retarding and smoke suppressing constituents dispersed in an essentially non-toxic, water based adhesive binder. The entire invention therefore consists of six different functional groups which respective functions will be explained below, the different groups are: catalyst/initiator, expendable graphite, source of carbon which additionally forms water, a blowing agent, cement and ceramics.

Substituted substances

Alternative Substances

Reliability of information

Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication

Reason substitution

ecotoxicity
physical hazards
CMR

Hazard Assessment

Substance to be substituted: Some of the flame retardants currently in use contain one or several of the compounds listed under “substances”, substituting these would be preferable from both an environmental and health aspect and if this invention can be as efficient as these “old” flame retardants than it would be a suitable substitute. Alternative substances: None of the alternatives are present in the database of hazardous substances according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC) and they have no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). » Check the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC)

Description of Substitution

The substitution covered here originates from a patent document filed in 2006 and describes an invention which consists of a surface coating designed to be smoke suppressing and fire retarding. The right to the invention is owned by Avtec Industries. Contact information is displayed later in this document. The surface coating is water-based and consists of six different parts: a catalyst/initiator, expandable graphite, a carbonific, a blowing agent, cement and ceramics. The catalyst/initiator ideally makes up 30-41% of weight in the dry composition and usually includes some kind of phosphorus containing material such as ammonium polyphosphate. The graphite used in the invention is expandable graphite with an expansion rate of 100:1. The carbonific, or the source of carbon preferably comprises 22-29% per weight of the composition and includes (but is not limited to) dipentaerythriol or tripentaerythriol. The blowing agent in the composition comprises 15,5-17,5% of weight and can for example be melamine. Present in the invention is also cement to 21-25% by weight and some sort of ceramic, preferably mica made into round spheres which comprises 2,5-5% of the composition. In order to apply the mixture, which forms a white powder, to its substrate, some kind of adhesive has to be used. The adhesive can be a synthetic resin or a naturally occurring film forming material, e.g. plant latex. The fire resistant and smoke suppressing compound is preferably foamed prior to application and is wettable and coatable on glass roofings, fabrics and fibres. When applied it has a latent ability to expand or intumesce when exposed to heat.

Case/substitution evaluation

Halogenated flame retardants pose a major environmental problem. This invention promises to be just as effective while essentially non-toxic to both health and environment. The invention described above could be a better alternative but since this is only a patent registration no definitive assessment could be performed.

State of implementation

Pilot study

Availability of Alternative

The alternative is available from Avtec Industries Inc.

Producer/Provider

www.avtecindustries.com

Type of information supplier

Producer / distributor

Contact

Swedish Patent and Registration office www.prv.se

Type of publication and availability

Freely available

Publication source: author, company, institute, year

The document is a patent application. Applicant: Avtec Industries Inc. (US) International Publication Number: WO 2006/017860 Year: 16 February, 2006

Date, reviewed

December 11, 2020