New generation of halogen-free high performing flame retardants for plastics, free from persistant, toxic and bio-accumulating substances.

Project Information

FireFree

Grant agreement ID: 673972

DOI

10.3030/673972

Project closed

EC signature date 14 April 2015

Start date 1 May 2015

End date 31 October 2015

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

PP-POLYMER AB
Sweden

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FireFree (New generation of halogen-free high performing flame retardants for plastics, free from persistant, toxic and bio-accumulating substances.)

Reporting period: 2015-05-01 to 2015-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The feasibility study for the Paxymer® halogen-free flame retardant was conducted in order to investigate the feasibility of the project, develop a Horizon 2020 phase 2 application and to develop the business plan of the project.
Paxymer AB is a technology with potential to reduce the use of persistent and endocrine disrupting flame retardant substances in plastics. The work plan for phase 1 of the project contained several different work streams that were investigated during the project.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

- Technical feasibility: Formulations were made and evaluated in order to meet industry requirements for flame retardant formulations. The company was able to identify focus areas for its coming product range.
- In-depth interviews were made with the market both with leading compounders and with industry organizations for the key markets that use flame retardants namely: building and construction, automotive and electrical and electronics equipment.
- IP novelty search was conducted in order to map the current IP landscape. The search confirmed that Paxymer AB is free to pursue its current development without risking an IPR infringement and also have the possibility to further expand its patent portfolio.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The conclusion of the study is that Paxymer ABs novel technology has an excellent ability to meet market requirements. The study also concluded that there is significant interest for a product with the characteristics that the initial technical feasibility study shows possible. In depth interviews with compounders on the market provided input into how to package the product for the market. The interviews further revealed that Paxymer®’s technical profile has a good fit with the following applications: wire and cable, compounding market and fibre and film applications. Drastically decreased use of halogenated flame retardants and a boosted share for halogen-free products will result in approximately a 1 bn€ business opportunity and multi bn€ societal savings on health spending and environmental effects.
The outcome of the feasibility study enforced the ambition of Paxymer ABs ambition to submit an application for Horizon 2020 phase 2 to fully develop the products for the identified industries meeting their specific demands.

Paxymer samples sent to customer under Horozin 2020 phase 1 feasibility study