Ann: Next Webcast Date and Timing of Release of 4C, page-35

One of the topics for discussion during next Tuesday morning’s webcast will be the potential benefits for Alexium of last month’s US Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSP) action on non-polymeric organohalogen FRs. It will be interesting to hear what Dirk has to say. In the meantime, here’s some research on the topic.

The Action

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION [CPSC Docket No. CPSC–2015–0022]
Guidance Document on Hazardous Additive, Non-Polymeric Organohalogen Flame Retardants in Certain Consumer Products

Hazard: Scientific evidence to date demonstrates that OFRs, when used in non-polymeric, additive form, migrate from consumer products, leading to widespread human exposure to mixtures of these chemicals. Exposures to OFRs occur because of the semi- volatile property of these chemicals that results in migration of the chemicals and the chemicals’ absorption into household dust and other surfaces where they persist in the indoor environment. At this time, there is no known way to direct consumers to use affected products in a manner that would guarantee reducing exposures to the American population to an acceptable level. Numerous peer- reviewed, published studies show that the vast majority of consumers have measurable quantities of OFRs in their blood. The known adverse health effects of these chemicals to consumers include: Reproductive impairment (e.g., abnormal gonadal development, reduced number of ovarian follicles, reduced sperm count, increased time to pregnancy); neurological impacts (e.g., decreased IQ in children, impaired memory, learning deficits, altered motor behavior, hyperactivity); endocrine disruption and interference with thyroid hormone action (potentially contributing to diabetes and obesity); genotoxicity; cancer; and immune disorders. These chemicals have a disproportionately negative health effect on vulnerable populations, including children.

…the Commission recommends that manufacturers of children’s products, upholstered furniture sold for use in residences, mattresses (and mattress pads), and plastic casings surrounding electronics refrain from intentionally adding non- polymeric, organohalogen flame retardants (‘‘OFRs’’) to their products. Further, the Commission recommends that, before purchasing such products for resale, importers, distributors, and retailers obtain assurances from manufacturers that such products do not contain OFRs. Finally, the Commission recommends that consumers, especially those who are pregnant or with young children, inquire and obtain assurances from retailers that such products do not contain OFRs.


Upholstered Furniture

The health dangers of toxic flame retardants in furniture such as sofas (typically incorporated in the foam cushion layers) has received fairly widespread coverage in the US media in recent times. (Here and here) Nonetheless, fire safety in furniture is important; several American and British studies indicate that the number of deaths from household fires can be reduced by at least 25% by the use of fire safe furniture.

Previous studies conducted by the CSPC suggested that fire barriers may be a way to improve the flammability performance of upholstered furniture. Fire barriers are installed between the outer upholstery fabric and the polyurethane foam. Typically, inherently FR fabrics are used.

The new CPSC recommendations against OFRs in upholstered furniture may potentially benefit Alexium in this market. In August the company stated

A recent development in our labs is the application of Alexiflam™ NF for FR barrier fabrics. FR barrier fabrics are used as layers within a composite structure that will insulate any underlying materials from a heat source. The FR barrier fabric is effectively “sacrificed” during the burn process so that it can provide a strong, consistent char that protects these underlying layers. Due to the strength and consistency of the char formed by an Alexiflam™ NF-treated fabric, our product can provide a cost-effective, easily processed product to replace the current inherently and costly FR fabrics that are used for these barrier fabrics. The cost decrease enabled by Alexiflam™ has the potential to be a truly disruptive product in this space. Alexium has identified a number of opportunities in this area and is working with companies in these markets for product development. The opportunities span both home textile and industrial applications.


Mattresses and Mattress Pads

Although Alexium has already made a strong entry into the mattress industry, largely thanks to Alexicool, the new CPSC guidance could further boost Alexium’s opportunities and revenues in this sector.

In her testimony at September’s CPSC hearing, Dr Heather Stapleton of Duke University, one of the foremost experts in the field of flame retardants in consumer products, said that despite changes in the California flammability standard that decreased the required amount of flame retardants in foam, mattresses sold today in the United States, especially memory foam mattresses, still contain organohalogen FRs and the use has not been decreasing. Exposure to the halogenated organophosphate flame retardant, TDCCP, has been found to have increased significantly in the U.S. population in the last decade.

Opportunity would seem to exist for Alexium to further grow its presence in this market in FR application in mattress ticking and foam layers (FR combined with or without PCM), and in the mattress’ crucial fire barrier layer.


Plastic Casings surrounding Electronics

Another market in which I think Alexium could see increased interest following the CPSC recommendations is electronics. One of the recommendations of the CPSC was that non-polymeric organohalogen flame retardants be banned from use in plastic casings surrounding electronics.

While the recommendations didn’t include electronics components, the IPC (Association Connecting Electronic Industries), the global trade association whose standards are used by the electronics manufacturing industry, advised its members after the CPSC action

Although the petition and other CPSC actions today do not address the use of flame retardants in electronics components, it is likely that this broad and unprecedented action against the entire class of OFRs will enhance deselection pressures throughout the supply chain.

The EPA has already conducted testing of FRs in electronics and reported in 2015 that halogen-free FRs are suitable for use in this application, having been found to meet or exceed the performance of brominated FRs.

When Alexium last mentioned its progress in the circuit board market (in May), it said it had successfully developed a chemistry and processing method to achieve the requirements of the circuit boards market, had its chemistry in UL testing with a major supplier into this market and was working with industry leader ICL to launch this material/process globally.