Mineral, intumescent, and synergist flame retardants u2014 aluminum hydroxide (ATH), ammonium polyphosphate, boric acid, and antimony trioxide u2014 for textile back-coatings and cellulosic treatments.
Textile flame retardants are additives that slow ignition and flame spread onnfabric, and they work by three different mechanisms. Mineral hydroxides such asnaluminum hydroxide (ATH) decompose and release water that cools and dilutes flammablengases; intumescent phosphates such as ammonium polyphosphate (APP) form an expanded charnthat shields the fiber; and antimony trioxide acts only as a synergist that boostsnhalogenated systems. Match the chemistry to the fiber and to the test standard you must meet.
nnAPP is the workhorse intumescent for cotton and cellulosics. On heating it builds ancarbon char that blocks oxygen and heat, and phosphorus-nitrogen systems can be madenreasonably wash-durable. ATH releases water at roughly 180-200°C, but it needs highnloading to be effective, and that loading can stiffen the fabric. The trade-off is real:nspecify APP-based chemistry where durable cellulosic FR and acceptable hand feel bothnmatter, and reserve high-loading ATH for back-coatings where added stiffness is tolerable.
nnAntimony trioxide contributes no flame retardancy on its own; it functions only with anhalogenated flame retardant, typically in a back-coating. That pairing carries regulatorynweight: antimony trioxide is classified as a suspected carcinogen (Carc. 2) under EU CLPnand is identified as a substance of very high concern, and boric acid (used on cellulosics)nis on the ECHA SVHC Candidate List as a reproductive toxicant. Confirm regulatory statusnfor your application and jurisdiction. Where antimony or halogen chemistry is ruled out,nspecify phosphorus-nitrogen (APP) or mineral (ATH) systems instead.
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