Strategies for the Scenario-based Selection of Flame Retardants in Automatic Fire Suppression Material Glue

In modern industry and daily life, fire safety is of utmost importance. Automatic Fire Suppression Material glue, as a special material with automatic fire extinguishing function, is widely used in various fields such as electronic devices, construction materials, and automotive manufacturing. The quality of its flame retardant performance is directly related to the safety guarantee in the application scenarios. As a key additive to enhance the flame retardant performance of the glue, flame retardants come in a wide variety of types with different characteristics. How to accurately select the appropriate type and dosage of flame retardants according to the characteristics of different application scenarios has become the core issue to ensure the performance and safety of the glue.

In the Field of Electronic Devices: Stringent Requirements for Flame Retardants

Electronic devices have a precise internal structure with numerous electronic components. During operation, they generate a certain amount of heat, and there is also a high voltage in some areas. Once a fire breaks out, it will not only cause damage to the devices but also may lead to serious consequences such as data loss, circuit short circuits, and even pose a threat to the safety of users. This requires that the flame retardants in the Automatic Fire Suppression Material glue applied to electronic devices should possess multiple excellent characteristics.

In terms of type selection, halogen-free flame retardants are the first choice. For example, ammonium polyphosphate in phosphorus-based flame retardants has the characteristics of low smoke and low toxicity. When heated, it can decompose to produce phosphoric acid, which promotes the formation of a char layer and effectively prevents the spread of flames. Unlike halogen-based flame retardants, it will not release a large amount of toxic and harmful gases during combustion, causing secondary damage to electronic devices and endangering human health. Silicone-based flame retardants are also a good option. They can endow materials with good thermal stability and electrical insulation properties without affecting the normal operation of electronic devices. Their unique molecular structure can also form a stable silicon-oxygen-carbon layer on the surface of the material, playing a role in isolating oxygen and heat.

The dosage of flame retardants needs to be precisely controlled. Generally, on the premise of ensuring that the flame retardant effect meets relevant standards (such as UL94 V-0 level), the dosage should be minimized as much as possible to avoid negative impacts on other properties of the glue. For example, in the glue used for the outer shell of electronic devices made of polycarbonate (PC), if ammonium polyphosphate is added, the addition amount is usually between 10% and 15%. This can not only endow the glue with good flame retardant performance but also maintain the adhesive strength of the glue to the PC material and the mechanical and electrical properties of the PC material itself. If the dosage is too high, it may cause the glue to become brittle, the adhesive performance to decline, and it may also affect the transparency and fluidity of the PC material, which is not conducive to processing and molding.

In the Field of Construction Materials: Balancing Diverse Performance Requirements

The construction environment is complex, with a large space and a dense population. Once a fire breaks out, the fire spreads rapidly, and rescue is difficult. Therefore, the requirements for the flame retardant performance of construction materials are extremely high. For the Automatic Fire Suppression Material glue applied to construction materials, the selection of its flame retardants needs to comprehensively consider various factors.

In terms of types, inorganic flame retardants are widely used. Aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide are common inorganic flame retardants. When heated, they decompose and absorb heat, releasing water vapor to dilute oxygen, playing a flame retardant role. At the same time, they also have the advantages of being environmentally friendly, non-toxic, low-cost, and having a good smoke suppression effect. For example, in the glue used for building thermal insulation materials, after adding aluminum hydroxide, it can not only improve the flame retardant performance of the thermal insulation materials but also enhance their stability and durability. Zinc borate is also a commonly used inorganic flame retardant. It can produce a synergistic effect with other flame retardants, improving the flame retardant efficiency. At the same time, it has good thermal stability and weather resistance and is suitable for the glue of various building decoration materials.

In terms of dosage, it needs to be determined according to the type and application location of the construction materials. For flammable wooden construction materials, the addition amount of flame retardants in the Automatic Fire Suppression Material glue is usually relatively high to ensure that the spread of the fire can be effectively delayed in case of a fire. For some construction materials that have certain flame retardant performance themselves, such as some fireproof panels, the dosage of flame retardants can be appropriately reduced, but it still needs to meet the corresponding fire protection grade requirements. For example, in the glue used for indoor wall decoration, if magnesium hydroxide is added, the general addition amount is about 20% to 30%, which can not only meet the flame retardant requirements of the wall decoration materials but also ensure the construction performance and adhesive strength of the glue.

In the Field of Automotive Manufacturing: Adapting to Special Working Environments

During the driving process of a car, the temperature in the engine compartment is high, and there is a risk of fuel leakage. For the interior parts, the safety and comfort of passengers need to be considered. For the Automatic Fire Suppression Material glue applied to automotive manufacturing, the selection of its flame retardants needs to adapt to these special working environments.

In terms of type selection, organic phosphorus-based flame retardants are commonly used. They not only have the characteristics of low smoke and low toxicity, but some also have a plasticizing function, which can improve the flexibility and processing performance of the glue. For example, in the bonding of automotive interior parts, using glue containing organic phosphorus-based flame retardants can not only improve the flame retardant performance of the interior parts but also ensure the softness and comfort of the interior parts during long-term use. For the glue used in high-temperature parts such as the engine compartment, flame retardants with better thermal stability can be selected, such as some phosphazene compounds, which can maintain stable flame retardant performance at high temperatures and effectively prevent fires.

The dosage of flame retardants needs to be determined according to the different requirements of automotive parts. For automotive interior parts such as seats and instrument panels, in order to ensure aesthetics and comfort, the addition amount of flame retardants in the Automatic Fire Suppression Material glue should not be too high, but it is necessary to ensure that it meets the flame retardant standards for automotive interior materials. Generally, the addition amount is about 5% to 10%. For the parts in the engine compartment, due to the higher requirements for fire prevention, the addition amount of flame retardants may be increased accordingly to ensure safety in a high-temperature and flammable environment.

Selection of Flame Retardants in High-temperature and High-humidity Environments

In high-temperature and high-humidity environments, the performance of ordinary flame retardants may be affected, resulting in a decline in the flame retardant effect. At this time, flame retardants with special properties need to be selected.

Flame retardants with good thermal stability and hydrolysis stability are the first choice. For example, some inorganic flame retardants with special surface treatment, such as aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide coated with silane coupling agents on the surface, can maintain a stable structure and performance in high-temperature and high-humidity environments and are not prone to hydrolysis reactions, thus ensuring the flame retardant effect. Silicone-based flame retardants can also play a good role in this environment. The silicon-oxygen bonds in their molecular structure have high stability and can resist the erosion of high temperature and moisture, maintaining the flame retardant performance of the material.

In addition, some flame retardant compound systems with a synergistic effect can also be selected. Mix different types of flame retardants in a certain proportion and use them together, and utilize the synergistic effect between them to improve the flame retardant effect in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. For example, compound phosphorus-based flame retardants and nitrogen-based flame retardants. The phosphoric acid formed by the phosphorus-based flame retardant when heated can promote the formation of a char layer, and the nitrogen-based flame retardant can decompose to produce inert gases at high temperatures to dilute the oxygen concentration. The two cooperate with each other and can play a better flame retardant effect in high-temperature and high-humidity environments.

The Automatic Fire Suppression Material glue has different requirements for the types and dosages of flame retardants in different application scenarios. In the field of electronic devices, attention is paid to being halogen-free, low-toxic, and the impact on electrical performance; in the field of construction materials, emphasis is placed on environmental protection, cost, and comprehensive performance; in the field of automotive manufacturing, it is concerned about adapting to special environments and the needs of different parts; in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, flame retardants or compound systems with good thermal stability and hydrolysis stability need to be selected. Only by accurately selecting the appropriate flame retardants and their dosages according to the characteristics of specific scenarios can the flame retardant performance of the Automatic Fire Suppression Material glue be fully utilized to ensure fire safety in various fields.

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