The market
The global flame fire market for flame and late delayers is estimated at $ 5.1 billion for 2012 and is expected to reach 7.1 billion in 2017. The halogen -free chemical market which prevents fires is already 2.72 billions of dollars and continues to grow. Consumers concerned about their health in Europe and Japan, as well as the strict legislation in force worldwide, push hazardous haloged products out of the market. However, the growth in demand for all fireproof products comes from China, which is expected to increase demand of more than 13 % in the next 12 months. The Asia-Pacific region already represents 48 % of the world market. Unfortunately, the demand for (toxic) flawless products dominates the Asian market with sales of more than a billion dollars and, thanks to exports, industrialized countries benefit from it.
The history of flames control chemistry dates back to the Egyptians who dipped wood in alum (aluminum and hydrated potassium sulfate) to prevent it from burning. The demand for fire fighting officers was limited to wood until the introduction of oil -based products which forced the use of flame delay as a safety standard. Insurance companies have played a central role in promoting its use. As fire is the fourth cause of accidental death, the number of victims is estimated at 300,000 each year that parliaments have adopted laws imposing these chemicals in the sofas, cars, computers, cables, curtains and many other articles. Ironically, the very regulation which aimed to reduce the risk of fire introduced toxic chemicals which, even to date, are dispersed in the environment. The security objectives have been achieved, but the impact on health has proven to be an involuntary consequence.
Half of the chemicals used to slow down the propagation of the flame and to remove smoke are mixed with plastics found in cars, planes, trains and houses. The rest is used in textiles, furniture, paper, interior decoration, bedding, lamps, candlesticks and work clothes. More and more research is suggesting that these late flame and fire delayers can cause neurological and reproductive diseases, thyroid dysfunction and all kinds of cancers. Thanks to the results of scientific research, one of the worst molecules (DECA) will be deliberately eliminated by the leaders of the Albemarle, Chemtura and ICL Industries market by 2013.
Innovation
New regulatory guidelines for the reduction of toxic chemicals lead to a demand for flame delay that is not bioache. While governments are establishing new standards in flammability and smoke for a wide range of products, innovators have a unique chance to enter the market. Experts provide that nanotechnology will play a key role in improving performance, in particular by creating polymer-argile composites. Mats Nilsson, a Swedish inventor, imagined a completely different solution based on food quality chemicals. He appoints this discovery, which has been patented worldwide, "molecular heat eaters" (MHE) which is inspired by the way in which hot blood animals metabolize food.
Mats remembers the history of his grandfather, a welder who realized that his clothes seemed resistant to sparks and flames in the places where he had accidentally overthrew his favorite drink cider. However, the successful development of this flame delayer is based on more than a anecdote. The theory underlying this breakthrough is that the energy released during an acid-base reaction determines the amount of energy necessary to degrade the results of a previous reaction. This is an example of physical chemistry. The mats have designed a reaction between an organic acid and an inorganic basis, which generates a strong exothermic reaction. When the temperature increases, this creates a barrier against fire on the surface, so that the heat does not spread and the fire does not spread everywhere.
To create fire, you need three components: oxygen, heat and a fuel material. First, the MHE links oxygen to form water using salts, producing positively loaded ions (cations). The boxes provide carbon to manufacture more omble, an incumbustible material, generating - in doing so - CO2, an ininflammable gas. Thus, oxygen is "consumed" and the Omble covers the surface, in an flammable gas environment. The raw material necessary for the manufacture of EMS could come from the grape marc and citrus.
The MHE is produced in the form of tiny biodegradable particles, in the form of a liquid, a gel or a powder. The tiny size of these salts increases the surface, which multiplies and accelerates chemical reactions, which leads to a reduction in the quantity of flame delayer required.
The first cash flow
The main challenge is to optimize the mixture of fireproof products in a wide variety of products. A PVC, for example, is rich in chlorine and requires a different concentration of MHE depending on the additives to soften the plastic or protect it from ultraviolet, which either increase flammability, or stimulate it. After years of tests and errors, a portfolio of application of competitive products has emerged: polyamide carpets for walls, pvc carpets and coach coatings, flexible polyurethane foam, cellulose for the Paper, polystyrene for construction and insulation.
Mats Nilsson then created Trultsch AB, a Swedish company. He opted for a series of license agreements with companies in the United States and Australia. Its Swedish partner Deflamo AB then entered the secondary market in Stockholm and launched the flame delayer under the APYRUM © brand. Deflamo has a large-scale manufacture of operational ingredients to meet industrial demand, and jumps from a wholesaler of the main ingredient, to the producer of multi-density fibers protected by this delayer of flame and natural fire. Deflamo produced a waterproof water -based for textiles and paper, a powder for polymers and a special adaptation for the impregnation of textiles in natural fibers.
The opportunity
The innovation described goes beyond the simple substitution of one chemical by another. It offers the possibility of recycling the waste of grapes and citrus offices offering new perspectives to wine regions, replacing toxic chemicals with food quality molecules and transforming a very centralized industry with few global players into A hub for regional initiatives, supported by a patent portfolio. In addition, the range of applications can quickly evolve from plane carpets and computers to fire fire extinguishers, including environmentally friendly chemistry used in forest fires.
One day, the same technology could even be applied in the mining industry, where sparks cause explosions and force the use of expensive nickel equipment. The most fascinating option in the future is the possible havoc for SME to neutralize the rifles? and cannons. Although there is not yet proof of this concept, the fact that the product is already competitive in terms of price and performance at the start of its introduction to the market, gives an indication of the scope of this product. It is up to entrepreneurs around the world that it is the responsibility of completing what already exists and launching the business.
Videos
For a video demonstration of the operation of this technology, please click on:
