Flame-retardant compounds
Flame-retardant compounds, formulated to your target
Flame-retardant PBT, ABS and PC for connectors, switchgear, housings and battery enclosures. Tell us the UL94 rating and thickness you need, and we formulate to that target.
Start with the test your part must pass
A flame-retardant grade is defined by the test, the rating and the wall thickness. A compound that passes at one thickness can fail at a thinner one, so a rating without a thickness is not a specification.
We compound flame-retardant grades on Line C, our 250 kg/hr line for glass-filled, mineral-filled and flame-retardant grades, and develop new targets on Line D, our line for R&D and small batches.
- The UL94 rating and the thickness it applies to
- Any glow-wire requirement your standard sets
- Glass content, colour and other properties needed at the same time
- Compliance needs such as RoHS, REACH or halogen-free
Flame-retardant options by family
Three of our families have flame-retardant versions. For other base polymers, a flame-retardant version is development work.
| Family | Base polymer | Flame-retardant options | Typical parts |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSABATE | PBT, unfilled to 30% glass fibre | Flame-retardant versions | Connectors and electrical parts |
| OSALAC | ABS | Flame-retardant ABS, including OSALAC 3000, UV stabilised | Housings and lamp parts |
| OSANATE | PC | Flame-retardant versions, developed to order | Housings and enclosures |
| Other bases | PA6, PA66, alloys | Development work on request | Tell us the part and the target |
A UL94 rating depends on thickness and is confirmed by certification testing. Tell us the rating and thickness you need.
Where flame-retardant grades go
Parts where a flame or an electrical fault must not spread.
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Connectors
Flame-retardant OSABATE PBT keeps its shape and insulation in thin-walled connector housings.
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Switchgear
Insulating, flame-retardant parts for switches and distribution gear, with glow-wire testing in our laboratory.
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Housings
Flame-retardant ABS and PC for electrical, appliance and power-tool housings, colour matched to your standard.
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Battery and HV enclosures
Flame-retardant compounds for battery module parts, high-voltage connectors and power-electronics housings in EVs.
Glow-wire testing in our own laboratory
Many appliance and switchgear standards set a glow-wire requirement instead of, or next to, a UL94 rating. Our laboratory has its own glow-wire tester, so we check formulations during development without waiting for an outside lab.
The same laboratory runs MFI, tensile, flexural, impact and HDT tests, so you see what the flame-retardant package does to flow, strength, toughness and heat resistance.
- Glow-wire tester in-house
- MFI, UTM, Izod and Charpy impact, HDT and Vicat in the same lab
- Every batch tested before dispatch
- A CoA with every lot
How we handle a UL94 target
Tell us the UL94 rating and thickness you need. We do not claim UL listings. We formulate to your target and support your certification testing.
- 01
Send the target
UL94 rating and thickness, any glow-wire requirement, the base polymer or current grade, and the other properties the part needs.
- 02
We choose the route
We select the family and the flame-retardant package, and flag any trade-off against impact, flow or colour.
- 03
Trial formulation
A trial formulation in 48-72 hours.
- 04
In-house checks
Glow-wire, mechanical and heat tests in our laboratory before samples leave.
- 05
Samples for certification
You or your certification body run the UL94 test at your thickness. Once approved, the recipe is locked in our ERP.
A complete flame-retardant brief
The more of this we have at the start, the fewer trial loops it takes.
What to send us
- UL94 rating and wall thickness
- Glow-wire requirement and the standard behind it
- Current material and grade, if any
- Colour standard and delta E tolerance
- Annual volume and destination plant
- Halogen-free or other chemical restrictions
What you receive
- A proposed family and flame-retardant route
- A trial formulation in 48-72 hours
- In-house glow-wire and mechanical results
- Samples for your UL94 or approval testing
- TDS, SDS and RoHS and REACH declarations
- A CoA with every production lot
Related pages
- OSABATE PBTPBT from unfilled to 30% glass fibre, with flame-retardant versions.
- OSALAC ABS and SANABS and SAN compounds, including flame-retardant ABS.
- OSANATE PCPolycarbonate with flame-retardant, glass-fibre and UV-stabilised versions, developed to order.
- Electrical and electronicsCompounds for connectors, housings and switchgear.
- Compounds for EV partsBattery, high-voltage and charging parts.
- Quality and certificationsLaboratory, CoA and declarations.
Flame-retardant compound questions
Are your grades UL-listed?
We do not claim UL listings. Tell us the UL94 rating and thickness you need, and we formulate to it and supply samples for certification testing.
Can you test glow-wire in-house?
Yes. Our laboratory has a glow-wire tester, alongside DSC, FT-IR, MFI, UTM, Izod and Charpy impact, HDT and Vicat.
Do you offer halogen-free flame-retardant compounds?
We can develop a halogen-free formulation on request. Tell us the standard or customer specification it must meet, together with the UL94 or glow-wire target.
Which families have flame-retardant versions?
OSABATE PBT, OSALAC ABS and OSANATE PC. For polyamide and other bases, a flame-retardant version is development work: send the target and we confirm feasibility.
Can flame retardance be combined with glass fibre?
We can formulate for both. Line C runs our glass-filled, mineral-filled and flame-retardant grades. Give us the glass content and the flame target together, because each one affects the other.
Do flame-retardant grades come with RoHS and REACH declarations?
Yes. We provide RoHS and REACH declarations on request, with the TDS and SDS, and a CoA comes with every lot.
Send us your flame-retardant target
Tell us the UL94 rating, thickness and part, and a materials engineer will propose a route and a trial formulation.