An outstanding flame retardant grade included in line of PLA-based materials

26-Mar-10

The demand for plastics obtained from renewable assets is growing indeed, and the introduction of a material range featuring bioplastics is thus mandatory for a reference compounder Italian polymer supplier LATI Industria Termoplastici SpA. LATIGEA is the brand name of the newborn family of bioresin based compounds, featuring PLA - a polymer obtained from corn starch - among the matrixes chosen for a range of injection mouldable thermoplastics, still under development but very promising yet. The LATIGEA family features compounds reinforced with natural and traditional fibres, blends with PC and polyesters etc. R&D and Marketing focused just on some specific grades of PLA, whose formulation ought to feature only composants guaranteeing a very low or no impact at all on the environment. For this reason, among the bioplastic based compounds, LATI has introduced an outstanding flame retardant grade: the LATIGEA B01-V0HF. This material is engineered in order to feature no substance that may harm human health or the environment. It is fully RoHS compliant and halogen, red phosphorous, antimony and zinc free. No other plastic resin besides the sustainable and decomposable PLA matrix is introduced in the formula of LATIGEA B01-V0HF. This aspect increases actual chances for the material to be considered as eco-friendly as possible, although compostability is still under evaluation. Flame behaviour of the LATIGEA B01-V0HF is very interesting and results concerning flammability, ignition temperature and current tracking index are exciting. UL94 tests evidence a V0 behaviour at 0.8 and 1.5 mm, GWIT is as high as 800°C at 1 and 2 mm and GWFI shows a top value of 960°C at 1 and 2 mm as well. Current tracking index is outstanding as well, peaking up to 600V. Mouldability is excellent, not requiring dedicated tools or peculiar procedures. LATIGEA B01-V0HF can be coloured too, as the natural shade of the compound is white. As evident, FR properties boost LATIGEA B01-V0HF behavior close to the very best halogenated FR compounds obtained by not renewable resins as PP, PBT and PAs. These characteristics turn out to be a real asset, above all for the electrical and electronic industry, where the LATIGEA B01-V0HF can be adopted as material to mould boxes, housings, covers etc.