The Formulated Polymers Blog

Moulds are required across many industries and for many different purposes. Lots of different materials are suitable for creating moulds, and each has their benefits and drawbacks. Here is a quick guide to the different types, and their uses.

Whether you are an international company or a start-up, if you deal with textiles then you also must deal with fire safety laws. Thankfully, chemistry has several solutions for making materials flame retardant without them losing their natural textures and tones. Here is a quick guide to flame retardant back coatings for textiles.

Formulated Polymer Products range of Flame Retardant Textile Back Coatings are no longer classed as environmentally hazardous substances.

Courtesy of the British Furniture Confederation.

Background

The UK’s Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations (FFFSR) were originally introduced in 1988. They require upholstered furniture - such sofas, chairs, floor cushions and beds - sold in the UK to be made with covers that resist ignition when in contact with smouldering ignition sources (such as cigarettes) and small flames (such as matches or candles). In addition the filling materials used in all upholstered furniture - including sofas, chairs, floor cushions, scatter cushions and mattresses - need to meet higher ignition requirements. These requirements are designed to slow down the spread of fire and give you more time to escape in case of fire.

Formulated Polymers Products have announced that they are now basing all their natural rubber latex cold seal adhesives on low protein latex.

Poly-Vinylidene Chloride (PVDC) is a water-based coating often used to improve barriers and reduce permeability. It keeps food fresh, improves shelf life, and gives packaging an attractive high-gloss finish; all qualities that are behind the packaging industry’s preference for plastic. As a thermoplastic, PVDC is flexible, clear, and easily extruded. It clings well and resists oils and other chemicals, so it’s often used in pharmaceutical packaging. It’s easy to laminate, and if you need a more budget-friendly option, it can be mixed with cheaper monomers. One of the most popular of these consists of 85% vinylidene chloride and 15% vinyl chloride--more commonly known as Saran wrap.

Fretwork comprises organisations that apply flame retardant treatments to textiles and those who provide the chemical formulations for those treatments. These businesses play a vital role in ensuring furniture manufactured in the UK meets the stringent flammability requirements.

Will it happen? Won’t it happen? Will it be an organised deal, or no deal? What on earth is Brexit, and what do we all do about it? At Formulated Polymers, we have a plan. Let’s take a look.