Flame retardants are derived from naturally-sourced elements and are incorporated into materials such as plastics, textiles, foams, and paints.
Flame retardants can be liquids or solids. They can be chemically transformed to create a new fire resistant material (reactive) or physically incorporated into a material (additive).
Reactive flame retardants are incorporated into the polymer or material via a chemical reaction. Once reacted, reactive flame retardants cease to exist as separate chemical entities because they have been transformed into a new fire resistant material. They are engineered to become a new fire protected material, and therefore are a permanent part of the material itself.
Additive flame retardants are incorporated into and encased by the material they are designed to protect by physical mixing.