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Flame Retardant Polyester Film Developed to Improve Product Safety

May 08, 2020 by Luke James

A new PET film from Du Pont Teijin Films adds an extra layer of safety to a material widely used in electronic devices.

Product safety is a growing concern among manufacturers and consumers alike. With stories like electronics randomly bursting into flames burned into the minds of us all, there is an increasing level of skepticism among end-users who will go to great lengths to ensure that they are purchasing a product that is safe.

This, according to reports, has led to a predicted annual growth rate of more than 7% for eco-friendly flame retardants, particularly those within industries like automotive, construction, and electrical or electronics.

Also contributing to this growth is an increasing awareness of regulations that prevent halogenated flame retardants and more stringent fire safety requirements. 

 

Du Pont logo.

The flame-retardant film introduced by Du Pont was developed to help product designers improve safety in a variety of industries  
 

Improving Product Safety 

To help product designers and engineers achieve improved safety in areas like industrial, transportation, construction, and consumer electronics, DuPont Teijin Films is said to have developed clear flame-retardant, halogen-free polyethene terephthalate (PET) polyester films.

According to DuPont, the films have achieved a VTM-0 flame rating classification, meaning that they comply with ANSI / UL 94, and have a very low haze of around 1%. The “novel” films can also be produced in large quantities and provide a safer, cost-effective PET film solution to customers. 

 

The Benefit of PET Films for Electronics Applications

Standard, non-flame-retardant PET films are ideal for electronics applications like batteries, smartphones, flexible printed circuitry, and computers because they are resistant to chemicals, are physically durable, have low water absorption, and deliver reliability at a low cost to manufacturers.

Du Pont’s new flame-retardant film features all these characteristics with the added benefit of an extra level of safety. Potential applications where this bolstered safety will be most welcome include batteries and insulating materials.