Samyang Corporation, a South Korean company led by CEO Kang Ho-sung, has announced that its self-developed eco-friendly transparent flame-retardant polycarbonate has been found to be free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The United States has already begun regulating PFAS, while the European Union is pushing for legislation to ban their use in harmful chemicals. Other countries are also moving towards restrictions on their use.
Samyang Corporation conducted tests for 74 types of PFAS in this test, including Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which have been linked to chronic renal failure and birth defects, respectively. The results showed no detection of these hazardous substances.
Samyang Corporation’s transparent flame-retardant polycarbonate is an eco-friendly material developed by changing the molecular bonding structure based on silicone polycarbonate (Si-PC), without adding halogen-based flame retardants such as chlorine and bromine that produce toxic gases when incinerated. It overcomes the drawbacks of traditional flame-retardant polycarbonates with decreased transparency and impact strength, and its chemical resistance and low temperature impact strength are superior to regular polycarbonate. The material also received the highest rating of “V-0” in the UL 94 vertical burn test developed by “UL (Underwriters Laboratories)”, a U.S. safety standards development and certification organization. V-0 is awarded only to plastics that self-extinguish within 10 seconds when ignited vertically.
Samyang Corporation’s CEO Kang Ho-sung stated: “The recent environmental pollution and human health issues caused by PFAS have become a global concern, leading countries to strengthen regulations on their use. Based on the results of PFAS tests, we plan to accelerate the global expansion of transparent flame-retardant polycarbonate while also leading in the development of eco-friendly and high-functionality materials.”