ORGANIC CHEMICALS DIVISION
SALES INFORMATION BULLETIN
TO

N. W. Touchotte
hes-JFO
/

DATE

MONSANTO TRADE/UTERATU!|£JB .
ECT
PERMANENT. FILE

September 21, i960

THIS INFORMATION SHOULD OB
USED WITH OISCRKTION AS IT
HAS NOT BEEN CHICKED FOR AC­
CURACY AND SUCH CONSIDER A*
TIONS AS TOXICITY AND FATCNT
CONFLICT KXCBRT WHERE SPECI­
FICALLY STATED.

AROCLORS IN POLYOLEFIN?

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As you know, the Development and Sales Departments have been promoting
the use of Aroolor compounds as flame retardants In polyolefins. Some
concerns have reported good results with these products, while others
have not been successful In utilizing them.
We are sure your polyethylene processors will be extremely interested
in an article which appeared in the August 29 issue of "The Oil, Paint
& Drug Reporter", concerning flash fires caused by putting insufficient
water in a polyethylene waste basket to put out a fire. This should
stimulate a lot of interest in reevaluating Aroclors to make flameretardant polyethylenes.
The article is quoted below:
" Polyethylene producers, nervously remembering the recent plagtic
bag scare that cost them about $800,000 in a safety-education campaign,
-are moving fast these days to head off another panic.
_
"The latest fright has to do with the erratic, flash-fire possibilities
that are, it suddently develops, inherent in molded polyethylene
products.
.
"Awareness of the plastic's danger — which only breaks out under freak
circumstances — came about recently in a fire in a polyethylene waste
basket'at the University of Minnesota hospital. .
"Doused with Just the right quantity of water ( it must be a small
^quantity) the burning waste basket caused vaporization of the water and
la sudden, blinding flash of flames that shot better than twelve feet
high.
"Knowing that polyethylene containers—bowls, pans, garbage cans,
pails, etc. — are to be found in nearly every home and institution
in the country these days, the danger in such flash possibilities
Immediately became apparent to many people. Among them were officials
at the hospital, fire department officers, safety experts, and, of course,
the plastics Industry itself.
"The National Safety Council got wind of the accident at the Minnesota
hbspltal. Last week council officials told OPD they had immediately
put the wheels in motion for a through probe.
"The plastics people did not lag. They were quick to take
and are
still.taking — steps to overcome the danger. Their spokesman — says
they will need more time to lick the problem completely.
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"The best line of attack, declare the plastics makers, is to reformulate
moldable polyethylene so that it is fire-retardant. The difficulty
here is that if they make their product fireproof, it becomes difficult
to mold. On the other hand, if they make it easily moldable, it be­
comes increasingly flammable.
"On all fronts, SPI pointed out in a special conference with OPD editors
last week, the industry is moving with vigor against the problem.
For Instance:
"After the hospital, fire, plastics makers were advised of the happening
by university officials, and the Minneapolis Fire Department scheduled
a burning waste basket demonstration during a safety program. Dow
Chemical Company, U. S. Industrial-Chemicals Company and Union Carbide
Corporation hastened to send the'ff top polyethylene scientists to the
demonstration. SP1 experts Joined them.
,
"Carbide at that time took the opportunity to demonstrate its flameresistant polystyrene as a possible alternative to materials already
in use.
"W, Ft. Grace & Co., since December 1958, has had several grade of flame
proof polyethylene (OPD, 12/21/58). Grace boasts that it is the first
to have made a workable flameproof polyethylene — either high or low
denBlty.
"Other companies, and the Society for the Plastics Industry Itself,
are working on the program, determined to head off anything similar
to the plastic bag scare.
"The ironic part of the whole situation is that half a cup or so of
water will cause a flareup, but a quart of water will put a fire out.
Strangely, it takes Just the right amount of water.
"0. W. Frawley, director of services and supply for the University
of Minnesota hospital, told OPD last week: 'We've had a number of
troublesome fires.'
. .
"However, he emphasized that the hospital wasn't about to chuck all
2,500-3,000 baskets out, What he did say was that as soon as the. .
industry comes up with a solution to the problem, he would be glad to
phase in new fire-retardant wastebaskets.
"We're sure not going to buy any more of the type we have now, 'Mr.
Frawley said, and 'we're going to replace the present ones with fireretardant plastic as soon as possible."
Now is the time to discuss AroolorB again with polyethylene and poly­
propylene molding compound producers'.
Walter F. Waychoff
Howard S. Bergen

WFW/HSB/Jaa

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