Polyolefins – polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) – are widely used in packaging, pipes, cable insulation, construction products and automotive parts. However, PE and PP are combustible materials, so flame retardants must be added to meet fire safety requirements (UL 94, GOST and industry standards). Revada Plastic offers an effective solution: the halogenated Revaguard BG08P masterbatch, specifically developed for producing flame-retardant compounds based on polyolefins and engineering plastics.
What is Revaguard BG08P?
Revaguard BG08P is a granular masterbatch containing 80% active flame-retardant components. Its active base is a mixture of antimony trioxide and a brominated flame retardant. This mixture provides a synergistic flame-retardant effect: the brominated component inhibits radical combustion reactions in the gas phase, while antimony trioxide enhances this process by forming volatile antimony halides and oxyhalides that additionally dilute combustible gases and suppress the flame.
How antimony and bromine interact
When heated, the brominated flame retardant decomposes, releasing hydrogen bromide (HBr). HBr then reacts with antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃), forming antimony oxybromides and tribromide:
- Sb₂O₃ + 2HBr → 2SbOBr + H₂O;
- 5SbOBr → Sb₄O₃Br₂ + SbBr₃ (at 245-280 °C);
- 4Sb₄O₃Br₂ → 5Sb₃O₄Br + SbBr₃ (at 410-465 °C);
- 3Sb₃O₄Br → 4Sb₂O₃ + SbBr₃ (at 475-495 °C).
The resulting SbBr₃ is volatile and enters the gas phase, where it acts as a “trap” for reactive radicals. The mixture of antimony trioxide and the brominated flame retardant thus interrupts combustion chain reactions, reducing heat release and the concentration of reactive H• and OH• radicals. In addition, heavy antimony bromide vapors dilute combustible gases and impede oxygen access to the flame zone. Individually, these components will not act as effective flame retardants for polyolefins; the mechanism works only when the formulation contains the correct ratio of components.
Advantages of the brominated component
Revaguard BG08P contains a brominated flame retardant with several important properties:
- high bromine content, allowing the overall flame-retardant dosage to be reduced;
- high thermal stability, sufficient for processing polyolefins at elevated temperatures;
- low volatility and good UV resistance, which are important for retaining product color and performance;
- suitability for high-temperature compounding and molding processes.
Processing advantages
Revaguard BG08P is supplied as white granules measuring 2–6 mm, with a melting temperature of approximately 140 °C. The product offers excellent dispersibility, is dust-free and easy to dose, and improves melt flow during compounding.
Conclusion
Revaguard BG08P is an effective, easy-to-process masterbatch for imparting flame retardancy to polyolefins and engineering plastics. It is based on a mixture of antimony trioxide and a brominated flame retardant that provides a synergistic effect, allowing UL 94 V-2 and V-0 ratings to be achieved while retaining polymer processability and physical and mechanical properties. Revada Plastic can provide Revaguard BG08P samples for testing and technical advice on selecting the optimal formulation.
