Tolsa Functional Additives News: Highlights Latest ADINS Products for FR and Biocide Applications at K 2022
Tolsa Highlights Latest ADINS® Products for FR and Biocide Applications at K 2022
MADRID, Spain, August xx, 2022– Tolsa S.A., a leading supplier of flame retardant synergists and specialized additives for a range of markets, is showcasing its ADINS® range of flame-retardant additives for PP, PVC, rubber polymer systems, and silicones, along with its ADINS® Protection range for biocide applications. Tolsa will highlight the latest developments for both material families at the K 2022 exhibition (Hall 8B/D46) which runs Oct. 19-26 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
“Our unique FR technology continues to expand and we see continuing growth for ADINS® synergists in a wide range of systems that require the highest standards of flame retardancy,” said Almudena Vidal, marketing manager for Tolsa’s Industrial Business Unit. “Our materials have been well received in the market and they are highly versatile and can be fine-tuned to meet the high-performance needs of formulators and end users.”
In a recent development, Tolsa has announced that it has trasferred its unique ADINS® FR technology to nylon (PA) matrices for applications in electrical/electronics, automotive, textile, and transportation markets. The company is developing new products for these systems. During the last two years, Tolsa has completed extensive testing with PA matrices using a range of ADINS products. The company has successfully reduced Total Heat Release (THR) levels more than 20% compared to competitive additive solutions.
ADINS® flame retardant technology offers a versatile range of additives for polymers that act as synergists with halogen and halogen-free flame retardant systems. They are a highly suitable alternative to antimony trioxide (ATO), one of the most widely used FR additives but whose safety is under regulatory study, due to toxicity and carcinogenicity concerns. In addition, the variability of ATO prices and supply issues have generated additional concerns among end users. However, in some applications such as E&E, its use is unavoidable despite the fact that increased hydroxide FR load generates processability and performance issues. Therefore, there is a need for safer synergists like ADINS® that can reduce ATO dosage without damaging performance and processability. ADINS® helps to reduce up to 50% or eliminate the ATO content from formulations (in PVC or PP matrices for example) when combined with flame retardant systems like ATH or MDH.
ADINS® synergists also drastically reduce dripping, thus allowing a V-0 rating for different systems, such as polyamide and polyester.
Tolsa will also highlight the wire and cable market where ADINS® FR products are meeting the growing demand for synergists in an environment of increasingly stringent regulations as well as environmental, health and safety standards which are directly influencing the demand for alternative and safe materials.
ADINS® technology allows the development of customized grades that guarantee compliance with the specific client and industry requirements. ADINS® significantly improves the behavior of plastic components under fire conditions, enabling their compliance with the most stringent international health and safety regulations such as the European Construction Products Regulation (CPR) or the Railway EN45545 regulations.
ADINS® synergists promote char formation and create a physical barrier, protecting the material and reducing heat and smoke emission as well as volatile organic compounds (VOC). The required dosage of ADINS® is low, ranging from 1 to 5% for commonly used formulations, however, the impact on properties is significant, even allowing a reduction in FR doses.
At K show, Tolsa will also showcase the company’s ADINS® Protection biocide line. ADINS Protection P4 (zinc based) has been approved for the following applications in Germany: PT2 (disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals), PT7 (film preservatives), PT9 (fibre, leather, rubber and polymerized material preservatives), PT10 (construction material preservatives), and PT21 (antifouling products). Tolsa continues to develop other products based on different active substances.
The company offers three different grades of ADINS® Protection biocide products for thermoplastic applications, two based on silver and one based on zinc. ADINS® technology allows the incorporation of different active substances on the surface of the clay, obtaining a uniform distribution of these species throughout the additive. In addition, the product allows an optimal dispersion in the matrix, which translates into high antimicrobial activity at lower dosages. Due to its stability, ADINS® Protection allows for reduced amounts of active substance to obtain the same antimicrobial activity, thus increasing its durability and reducing cost of the formulation and its environmental impact. Targeted applications include outdoor furniture, architectural and hospital products, construction (i.e., joint mortars), plastics and rubber applications such as toys and swimming pools, and paints and coatings.
In collaboration with Delta Tecnic, Tolsa completed a study of the antimicrobial activity in PVC formulations for swimming pools. It was verified that the resulting PVC, incorporating ADINS® Protection additives, was biocidal against two of the most common bacteria in swimming pools (E. Coli and P. Aureuginosa). In addition, an aging treatment in a Suntest XXL+, which simulates half (3000h) and all (5000h) of the material lifetime, was completed. After this aging treatment, the antimicrobial activity versus the same bacteria remained practically unchanged, according to Dr. Marta Sacristán, Technical Manager for Tolsa’s Functional Additives.
ADINS® Protection is also very active against all enveloped viruses, including Coronavirus types, Norovirus, Rotavirus and Adenovirus, according to European Standard 14476:2013+A2:2019. Products comply with the European Directive on toy safety (2009/48/EC). The company has several customers who are in the final process of homologating the final formulation with ADINS® Protection for toys.
For more information about TOLSA, contact adins@tolsa.com or visit www.tolsa.com/adins.