Flame Retardant Technology in Automotive Plastics

The world has become almost unable to function without mobility. As modern societies' need for mobile independence grows, plastic usage in the mobility sector is rising rapidly. For instance, plastic usage in structural equipment in automobiles, aircraft and trains, or in other words in seat upholstery and carpets, is at an all-time high. Today, an average of 100 kilograms of pure plastic per vehicle is used, including composite materials and reinforced plastics. This figure, which has already nearly doubled, is expected to increase further in the coming years. The use of lightweight alloy materials in the motorized vehicle industry dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. Today, far more plastic is used in automobiles compared to steel and light metals. Plastic usage in the automotive industry brings many advantages such as increased design independence for the vehicle, ease in the assembly process, and improved functional integration support. The reduction of vehicle weight stands out as the most important advantage. Plastics increase safety by shortening the vehicle's braking distance. However, plastics' easy flammability compared to other materials such as steel also increases the fire risk of vehicles. An automotive industry without plastics is unthinkable... Through special chemicals, it is possible to make plastic less susceptible to fire and prevent rapid ignition. With the addition of flame retardants to plastic materials, the material's properties regarding ignitability, extinguishability, smoke generation, flame and heat spread can be modified. "Exolit® OP, consisting of halogen-free and environmentally friendly flame retardants, has recyclable properties..." To ensure that mobility finds its place in our lives in a safe and effective manner, we continue to develop innovative solutions. One of the most important outcomes of this approach, Exolit® OP products, offers innovative and highly effective flame retardants based on organophosphorus compounds. Exolit® OP products not only prevent fire most effectively, but also minimize smoke density and corrosiveness to the maximum. This property not only increases the chances of vehicle occupants to escape unharmed in any fire situation, but also minimizes damage and harm that may come to electronic components and other parts. The Exolit® OP product group, based on organophosphorus compounds, consists of halogen-free and environmentally friendly flame retardants and has recyclable properties. Even using it at low rates of 15-20 percent is sufficient to achieve flame protection effect. As Clariant, we attach equal importance to environmental issues such as supporting lightweight material construction methods that provide energy savings and minimizing emission rates in exhaust gas emissions, as we do to safety matters. For this purpose, we will continue to create targeted solutions by combining our technical knowledge with our capacity to create innovation.