Flame Retardants
Almatis ATH (aluminum trihydroxide) is an inorganic hydrated alumina designed primarily for use in polymer systems as a flame retardant and smoke suppressive additive. The main product, FlameGard, is a ground Bayer hydrated alumina designed for specific application in polymeric adhesive backing of tufted carpeting to provide a level of flame retardancy to the carpet. FlameGard imparts fire retardant properties to a polymer/ATH filled system because it has a high proportion of chemically combined water by weight (34.6 percent) attached to each hydrate molecule. This “water of hydration” is stable to the processing temperatures of most polymer coated textiles. FlameGard is also nonsmoking and non-halogenated. It decomposes into an inert material: anhydrous alumina and water. Its presence in a polymer system can substantially lower smoke production levels when compared to flame retardant polymers based on phosphates or on brominated or chlorinated paraffin/antimony trioxide filled systems.