An overview of the fire retardant chemicals industry, past—present—future

Abstract

Abstract An overview of the fire retardant chemicals industry in the United States is given starting with an historical review of the chemical producers in about 1970. Marketing concepts for these specialty chemicals is discussed by customer types for each category of fire retardant. The fire retardants discussed are bromine and chlorine compounds, nonhalogen and halogenated phosphates and antimony oxide. The paper contains a section in how to select a fire retardant. Markets are discussed by fire retardant type and by polymer type. The current and future trends section discusses toxicity issues with bromine fire, retardants, non‐halogen fire retardants, smoke, processability and thin walled parts, and market projections.