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Flame Resistance

Polystyrene

If you manufacture a product which contains polystyrene and are looking  to increase the chemical resistance of your  product  in order to give you a  competitive edge then contact  Advanced Polymer Solutions regarding  our patented  chemical  process we will develop a customized  formulation based upon your flame resistance specifications.

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Once we develop and thoroughly test the  formulation it will become your property  which can be patented under your name.  APS  can  manufacture the final formulation in the desired quantities and supply the manufacturer with a  pre-mixed, ready to use coating, additive or  adhesive. flame resistance on polystyrene  formulation can be added to the resin or developed as a coating. 

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Application Methods

Polystyrene flame resistant coatings are applied on the surface of substrates to improve the functional properties and durability. Conventional coatings need extensive surface preparation for adhesion and need to build up thickness for performance. This is not the case with APS' coating formulations. Most  APS  coatings can be applied in one step with no or minimal surface preparation. In addition, due to the chemistry of APS' chemical grafting process, thinner coatings can be used to achieve a higher degree of property  performance. Delamination  will not occur due to the chemical bond formed between the coating and the substrate with some subsurface penetration occurring through the use of molecular small and lightweight monomer.

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Polystyrene flame resistant additives are added into the resin prior to extruding or molding in order to penetrate to matrix of the material.

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Typical coating methods can be used such as dip, spray, roll, flow coat, etc. APS  coatings can be formulated to be air dried, however, in the interest of time, heat or some energy source (i.e., UV or infrared lights) can be used. 

Additives

 

APS  can develop additives to incorporate into the raw material/resin prior to extruding or molding. In this case, the new properties will penetrate the matrix of the material. APS  chemists will adjust the formulation to conform to the processing parameters used by the manufacturer. Due to the molecular bond formed by APS' process, the new properties will not migrate and leach from the material over time, even under severe condition.

 

Laminates (Adhesives) 

APS  chemists have extensive experience in bonding the same or different substrates together. Materials that are difficult to adhere to are effectively bonded with APS' process.Substrate failure will occur before adhesion failure. In addition, if two substrates with 

different coefficients of thermal expansion are bonded, an  APS  developed adhesive bonding action will not be affected. Such is not the case with conventional adhesives which cannot withstand the varying expansion and contraction of different substrates. 

Flame Resistance Polystyrene - UL Testing

Flame Specifications

 

UL 94 Flammability Classification Tests for Plastic Materials

UL 94 is the standard applied by the American Underwriters Laboratories for the testing of the flammability and fire safety
of plastic materials used in devices and appliances. The UL 94 HB (Horizontal Burning) tests the burning of a horizontal
plastic specimen and the most demanding UL 94V (Vertical Burning) tests the burning of a vertical plastic specimen.
Precise details of the equipment, conditions and test systems to be used can be found in the UL 94 standard.
he length of the test specimen is 5" (127 mm) and width 0.5" (12.7 mm). The test sheet cannot be more than 0.5 (12.7
mm) thick. Lines are marked on the sheet at the 1" and 4" locations. The sheet is fixed horizontally at one end and tilted
45 degrees in the direction of the width, as shown in the diagram. The burner used is adjusted so that it forms a 1" long
blue flame. The flame is directed at an angle of 45 degrees to the front edge of the plastic sheet so that about 1/4 of the
test specimen’s front edge is in the flame. The flame is applied for 30 seconds, after which it is removed. If the test
specimen burns to the 1" line before 30 seconds have passed, the flame is removed immediately. The test is carried out
on three test sheets.

For additional information regarding grafting flame resistance on polystyrene

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