Published On: December 2022
Chemicals known as flame retardants are added to materials to stop or delay fire spread. Since the 1970s, they have been utilized in numerous consumer and industrial products to lessen the potential for material ignition.
The following products frequently have flame retardants added or applied to them:
As per the flame retardants market outlook, the global sales of flame-retardant products were estimated to be worth USD 7.46 billion in 2020. From 2021 to 2028, sales are expected to increase at a CAGR of 8%. The increasing use of fire-resistant goods in various end-use industries, including electrical & electronics, transportation, construction, and others, is expected to fuel demand for flame retardants.
According to the flame retardant market analysis, many flame retardants have been discontinued or taken off the market. However, they can stay in the environment for years since they are difficult to degrade. They can also bioaccumulate or accumulate over time in both humans and animals.
There are countless variations of flame retardants. They are generally split into categories depending on chemical structure and characteristics. Flame retardants are usually categorized based on whether they contain bromine, chlorine, phosphorus, nitrogen, metals, or boron. The most widely used flame retardants are those that are brominated and include bromine.
Due to their widespread use and potential negative effects on human health, particularly in young children who can easily consume them through hand-to-mouth contact, flame retardants are being examined. The researchers funded by NIEHS are also examining the health impacts of more recent flame retardant substitutes that are becoming commercialized.
Various industries are adopting products based on flame retardants more frequently to comply with fire safety and prevention laws. The increased consumer awareness of the need to increase the fire safety of combustible materials and goods is another factor driving up product demand. Flame retardants minimize the fire risk from an expanding range of electrical and consumer goods in homes and workplaces. Additionally, they prevent the start and spread of fire in contemporary tools and materials, including building insulation, engineering thermoplastics, circuit boards, cables, and others. The negative effects of the chemicals on both persons and the environment have a considerable inhibitory effect on the development of halogenated flame retardants, including brominated, chlorinated, and others. Certain substances are prohibited in the European Union, Japan, and Canada, including hexabromocyclododecane(HBCD).
This has significantly influenced the market for the development of safer alternatives, such as non-halogenated flame retardants based on phosphorous, bromine, and chlorine. Since it supports environmental sustainability, the trend is turning toward replacing halogenated flame retardants with new non-halogenated alternatives. For example, the GYC Group, a producer of specialty chemicals and fire-resistant goods, provides a vast array of halogen-free goods.
Aluminum trihydroxide is one less harmful substance that manufacturers search for when changing the makeup of their products. The applications of polyolefins, epoxy resins, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), engineering thermoplastics, rubber, and others are anticipated to account for most of the demand.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which caused industrial shutdowns, supply chain disruptions, and trade halts, has affected the economies of China, Iran, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France the most, which might somewhat impede flame retardants market expansion.