PAL...VersaCHAR in a vertical 60 second vertical burn test at 1,950°C, with black char-bodies forming at the bottom of the nonwoven wallcovering substrate.

A new non-halogenated FR compound called PAL...VersaCHAR can achieve a new level of flame retardant performance as a coating for nonwovens and technical textiles. It is being introduced by Dynamic Modifiers, a specialty compounder focused on custom polyolefin compounds and concentrates, based in Atlanta, Georgia.

PAL...VersaCHAR has been tested to 1950°C – the highest to date – and shown to prevent all flaming drips of polymer. Char bodies form on the compound surface, protecting against flame creation and delaying heat transfer. Rapid self- extinguishing burn behaviour protects any underlying substrate to which it is adhered.

The coated side of the nonwoven after the test.

The compound has passed ASTM E84 (Class A) with a 15/10 rating, which includes ‘clean’ smoke generation of only 2.3% of the allowable ASTM smoke limits.

In addition, the compound is light weight, at a specific gravity of 1.0, and 100% non-toxic in every respect, being free from heavy metals, halogens and VOCs.

Other properties include excellent cold crack performance, hydrophobicity, printability, extreme chemical resistance and the ability to be custom tailored for specific needs such as UV or antimicrobial performance, as volume warrants. 

The compound is also said to be very competitively priced.

In addition to its use as a coating, PAL...VersaCHAR compound can be produced as a flexible film or sheet and moulded to shape or over-moulded to most materials, including metal for corrosion resistance  As a polymeric compound it can be cast or calendered and typical durometers from 80-99A for flexible-to-high rigid formats are practical.

The non-coated back side of the fabric after the test.

Separately, an adhesive has been created which bonds to many surfaces. In internal evaluations of two laminated plies of woven carbon fibre and two plies of glass fabrics, both passed a 60 second vertical burn with no ply separation, distortion or flaming drips from the adhesive.

Dynamic Modifiers envisages many uses for PAL...VersaCHAR, from aerospace to the protection of rigid structural materials in building interiors.  

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