Axion joins industry protests against proposed antimony trioxide ban
9 Dec 2009
Manchester, UK – UK-based plastics recycler Axion Polymers has joined industry protests against a proposal in the European Parliament which could effectively ban the use of a widely-used flame retardant ‘synergist additive’ in new electrical and electronic products.
Director Keith Freegard claims preventing the use of antimony trioxide (ATO) – an additive commonly used as part of the FR-additive package in various products including computer and TV casings - could hinder progress already made on re-using recycled plastics in manufacturing. A ban, he adds, would work against the principles of EU WEEE Directive legislation; that is to encourage re-use of waste plastics in new items.
The Manchester-based company is planning to supply its high-grade Axpoly PS02 polymer, made from recycled TV sets, to be re-used by a major electronics manufacturer of new TV casings. However the TV producer is facing difficulties in meeting the requirements to obtain an Eco-Label for its new environmentally-friendly sets because of confusion surrounding the additive’s status.
The phase-out review of antimony trioxide is proposed by UK MEP Jill Evans as part of a revision of the RoHS directive on toxic substances in electronic equipment. However industry and trade representatives argue that the substance poses no health risks, especially when it’s locked within a plastic product.
According to the EU Flame Retardants Association factsheet, although ATO is associated with the harmful R40 risk phrase, once it is ‘inextricable compounded’ within a polymer matrix, it cannot generate airborne dust. Dust-free batches do not require ‘harmful’ or R40 labelling.
“Antimony trioxide is added to plastics containing brominated flame retardants and has been widely used as a very effective flame retardant in the TV industry over the past 20 years,” explains Keith. “It delivers the same level of performance with half the amount of chemicals, giving you more ‘bang for your buck’ as well as reducing the amount of bromine required.”
He says the whole issue is forcing their customer to review its flame retardant system, even though the Axion RoHS-compliant PS02 polymer made from old televisions only has 200 ppm of detectable ATO - well below the permitted 0.1% under the REACH legislation.
Keith adds: “In my view, it seems absolutely crazy that detecting very small amounts of ATO locked in the recycled polymer, which is the legacy of its past history, should become a reason for not re-using it in a new product.
“We believe this proposal is mis-informed and that guidance on obtaining an Eco-Label is being used in effect to ban a useful substance. It contradicts the whole ethos of what the WEEE Directive is trying to do, which is encouraging people to reuse materials from old electrical goods.”
Axion produces recycled polymers from post-consumer plastics, such as TV casings and fridges, at its Salford plant. Polymer properties can be modified to optimise the recycled plastic for various product applications - from engineering to furnishing sectors.
