Project: Novel tin - layered double hydroxide hybrid fire retardants and their application in nano-composite cable formulations
The HYBRID project involves the development of novel non-toxic fire-retardant additives and their application in cable formulations. The project consortium comprises two organizations. The lead participant, ITRI, is a research organization based in the UK. ITRI has considerable expertise in the field of fire retardancy and has been actively developing, patenting and licensing novel fire-retardant additives and materials based on non-toxic inorganic tin species for many years. ITRI has led and participated in several National and European projects, many involving fire science. The other participant is CimtecLab, part of Cimtec Holdings, a small privately owned group of companies with several sites across Italy. CimtecLab has particular expertise in thermosetting and thermoplastic polymeric composite materials, and carries out R & D projects for numerous industrial applications, from high pressure gas cylinders and pipes for water, oil, gas and cryogenic fluids transportation, to UV curable coatings for the wood furniture industry. CimtecLab’s work on Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs), especially with regard to modification and compatibilization techniques, puts them at the leading edge of research in this area. They are also expert formulators and proponents of reactive polymer chemistry, and bring to the project an additional novel technology recognizing the inherent fire-retardant properties of cardanol – a natural phenolic oil derived from wastes from cashew nut processing – and adapting it as a replacement for phthalate plasticizers._x000D__x000D_During 2008, ITRI and CimtecLab identified the potential for effective synergistic combination of their technologies, resulting in an agreement to work together to jointly develop and exploit results commercially, aiming at a market need in the high volume cable industry. The Eurostars funding vehicle is timely and its support will allow for a more thorough and focused program. _x000D__x000D_The HYBRID project will focus on combining the desirable properties and fire performance characteristics unique to both Ps’ key technologies. The technical program has two distinct streams, the first involving the synthesis and application of a series of tin - layered double hydroxide (LDH) synthetic clay hybrid fire retardants. It will utilize chemical routes to incorporate tin species within the LDH lattice structure, intercalate them between layers, and explore nano-coating techniques. We will address issues of dispersion and compatibility though tailored organic modification. The second stream will take a natural derived waste product, cardanol, enhance its inherent fire-retardant functionality and create a plasticizer to replace/displace phthalate plasticizers. This will also be adapted as a dispersion medium for the powder additives to create a liquid fire-retardant additive for use in PVC formulations, where phthalates are facing increasing regulatory controls. Fire-retardant masterbatches for PVC and EVA cable compounds will be produced and full scale demonstration cable manufacture is envisaged within the project timeframe._x000D__x000D_This project perfectly combines the skills and expertise of the two companies, with all the necessary experience, knowledge and equipment, apart from large scale final trials and testing, already available within the two organizations. The end products will be commercial powder and liquid fire-retardant additives, and optimized PVC and EVA fire-retardant masterbatches for cable compound, all based on the HYBRID technology. These will allow cable producers to confidently step away from continued use of harmful materials, replace them with non-toxic and partly naturally-derived organic materials, and achieve improved fire performance and cost effectiveness as demonstrated in a real process environment._x000D__x000D_Supporting Annexes to the HYBRID proposal are as follows:_x000D__x000D_Annex 1 - GANTT Chart_x000D_Annex 2 - Research Process Diagram (Logistics)_x000D_Annex 3 - Project Cost & Financing Structure_x000D_Annex 4 - Risk Analysis_x000D_
| Acronym | HYBRID (Reference Number: 4746) |
| Duration | 01/02/2010 - 01/02/2012 |
| Project Topic | The HYBRID project aims to develop a series of novel non-toxic fire-retardant and smoke-suppressant additives, based on inorganic tin - layered double hydroxide synergistic systems. The resulting products will be optimized for cost effective application in PVC and non-halogen cable formulations. |
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Project Results (after finalisation) |
The outcomes of the HYBRID project have been a family of novel hybrid fire-retardant additives, resulting frrm the combination of LDH (layered-double hydroxides) and tin-based components. These series of hybrid additives have resulted from the combination of syntehsis protocols developed by Cimteclab and ITRI. The novel fire-retardant additives have been extensively studied through several experimental techniques to determine their properties. The resulting polymeric nanocomposites with PVC and EVA generated a series of fire-retardand formulations for cables, which have been characterized using ISO fire tests methods. |
| Network | Eurostars |
| Call | Eurostars Cut-Off 2 |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | CimtecLab S.p.A | Partner | Italy |
| 2 | ITRI Limited | Coordinator | United Kingdom |