Low Toxic Fire Retardant Thermoplastic Materials

Poly Methyl Methacrylate

• Poly methyl methacrylate or PMMA is more commonly known as acrylic or Plexiglas. This nontoxic, fire-retardant thermoplastic material is widely used in optical applications such as eyeglass lenses and in exterior applications, such as window panes and panels.

Nylon

• Nylon materials are manufactured in a variety of grades or compositions, but nylon 6 and 6-6 are nontoxic nylons that are also fire retardant. These thermoplastic materials are used to make items used around your home such as hosiery, lingerie, clothing, carpeting and upholstery, seat belts, dental floss, tarps and hoses.

PBT Polyesters

• PBT polyesters, or polybutylene terephthalate are thermoplastic materials with good electrical properties and fire retardance, which makes them useful in electronics, automotive and industrial applications. They’re also used in the manufacture of consumer goods such as food storage containers and small appliances. According to Omnexus, polybutylene terephthalate has been graded by the Food and Drug Administrations as food safe, meaning it is nontoxic.

Liquid Crystal Polymers

• Liquid crystal polymers, commonly referred to as LCPs are a thermoplastic material with tensile strength similar to that of aluminum. LCPs are often used as a coating for electronic applications such as wires and electrical panels because they are flame retardant and heat resistant. Other applications include telecommunications, automotive parts and cookware. They contain no harmful toxins, which means LCPs do not emit chemicals or gases that might be harmful to your health.

Polypropylene

• Polypropylene is a nontoxic thermoplastic often used to make plastic bags, automotive door panels, chairs, medical devices, food storage containers and clothing. It is a semi-crystalline material that inexpensive with good mechanical, thermal and electrical properties that make it useful on a wide range of applications. Polypropylene is available in retardant grades, but the problem with fire-retardant polypropylene material is that it loses some of its strength and durability characteristics as a result of the additives necessary to reduce flammability. To solve this problem, polypropylene that is fire retardant typically has two outer sheets or skins of flame retardant polypropylene that are encase a core of standard polypropylene. This makes a thermoplastic material that is strong, but with an exterior that resists flames.