Tests to confirm valid AO replacements and two new products now available- SD200 and SD203.

(Specialty additives, flame retardant and smoke suppressant division)

The R. J. Marshall Company recently conducted a research and development project with the aim of supporting and extending the low antimony oxide products in its Marshall Additives Technologies (M.A.T.) product line and/or reducing costs for the vinyl compounder.  A series of first tests in a PVC “riser cable” formulation confirmed that C-TEC FRZ20S is almost as good as straight AO in flame retardancy (as measured by LOI), yet superior to AO in smoke suppression, reducing smoke readings by almost half (NBS smoke chamber, flaming mode).  C-TEC FRZ20S, priced below AO, is advantageous both from a smoke basis and a cost basis. 

In the same series, Marshall Additive Technologies defined two new low cost candidates in the C-TEC line - Smoke Defense SD200 and SD203.  SD200 at 10 phr provides essentially the same flame retardancy by oxygen index (39.1) as 10 phr antimony oxide (39.4), but gives significantly lower NBS smoke readings (flaming mode).  The smoke reading for SD200 was 355-388, whereas for antimony oxide it was 666-711, a large and significant difference. 

SD200 compared to C-TEC FRZ20S has a detectably better oxygen index at 39.1 vs. 37.9-38.5 for C-TEC FRZ20S.  However, C-TEC FRZ20S has lower smoke readings at 312-330, much better than antimony oxide in the same riser cable PVC formulation.

SD203 has smoke readings of 295-310, even lower than C-TEC FRZ20S, but a similar oxygen index of 37.7.  Advantages of SD200 & SD203 over C-TEC FRZ20S include lower cost and removal of a fibrous mineral associated with low temperature stiffness or brittleness in some formulations.

A second series of experiments in a PVC plenum formulation was conducted to lower AOM content and reduce the cost of this expensive and fairly water-soluble smoke suppressant.  Experimental data supports that M.A.T. has an excellent low AOM product, C-TEC LSZ4A (LSZ4AF), which gives smoke results equal to straight AOM but at much lower cost. 

M.A.T. has over 25 years of experience in the polymer additive, flame retardant and smoke suppressant markets, and provides high quality specialty additives and fillers for a variety of markets and applications.  For more information on M.A.T. products and solutions please visit www.rjmarshall.com or call 800-338-7900.