As we know, the aluminum PET film is made of al foil and PET film by adhesive. This is regular item without flame retardant. Although the ignition temperature of aluminum foil is high for 550℃ and difficult to burn. However, the PET film is about 260℃ and easy to burn. Once a fire, this regular aluminum PET film will burn quickly and cause huge losses.
To reduce this fire accident, people explore many solutions to against it. For example, the nonflammable material is used but bad effective. Finally, there are two solutions found by trial and error. Solution one is mixing fire retardant into the adhesive. Solution two is laminating AL foil with flame retardant PET film.
Regarding the fire retardant, what characteristics it has?
- Good fire retardant effects and safety.
- Harmless for people, animals and plants.
- No migration.
- Less toxic and corrosive gases (including smoke) are released during pyrolysis or combustion.
- Don’t deteriorate the performance of material when it recycle.
- Environmental friendly.
- Excellent compatibility with the flame retardant substrate material.
- Perfect thermal stability. The suitable temperature of decomposition is from 250℃ to 400℃.
- There is little influence on the process property and physical property of substrate material.
- High optical stability.
- The sourcing is enough. Its price is acceptable by customer.
What’s the difference between flame retardant AL PET film and non-flame retardant one?
People couldn’t judge by visual from the surface of aluminum PET film. Because the flame retardant with odorless, colorless could be compatibility with materials. Beside, the aluminum PET film for flame retardant and non-flame retardant can’t be distinguished from physical and mechanical properties. Actually, most of data is almost the same and no reference value. So, generally we do it by burning testing. If it was regular aluminum PET film, it will burn on the fire at once. Although the fire is moved, it continue to burn and even burn out. If it was flame retardant aluminum PET film, it will be died out when the fire is moved. To sum up, safety is the biggest difference between two items.
Besides, people make the standard for flammability according the ability of a material to extinguish after being ignited. It is called UL94 grade. This standard is most widely used as testing item in plastic material industry. Based on the combustion rate, time, droplet resistance and whether the droplet burns, there are many ways for judging. The grade with detailed is as below:
HB ＜ V-2 ＜ V-1 ＜ V-0 ＜ 5VB ＜5VA. The HB grade is the lowest flame retardant rating. And the 5VA is the highest one in plastic industry.
Application trend in the future
Currently, the regular item is more widely used than flame retardant item in many industries, due to the low price. But, undoubtedly, the flame retardant are more and more popular nowadays. For example, the flame retardant aluminum PET film is used with building material, the fire accident and the loss will be greatly reduced. In electronic industry, it could protect other components to avoid damaging. In packaging industry. With the development of economy, people’s awareness is strong and focus on the life safety & health. Believe the flame retardant will bring better life.
