Why Are  Flame Retardants Important In Upholstery?
We come across polyurethane forms in various places in our daily life. They are commonly found in the insulation of house fascia’s, fridges, shoe soles, car seats, sofas as well as other furniture. Polyurethane or PU forms are made of nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon and oxygen atoms. The form also has pores that usually contain trapped oxygen.
Just like most natural polymers, PU form is highly combustible and depending on the needs, requires to be armed with flame retardants so as to reduce the risk of fire. Of late, form producers have tended to apply chlorinated phosphates as fire retardants for they are affordable compounds that do not interrupt with the process of manufacturing.
However, these substances are prohibited in several countries as they are toxic and can finally evaporate from the form and find a way into the air. The industry is thus on the lookout for alternatives that are harmless and environment friendly. Annually, the business produces about 20 million tons of polyurethane across the globe and most of it is presumed to contain flame retardants.
Besides, we do need our upholstery to be flame resistant for various safety reasons such as limiting the spread of fire.
