Ecobat certifies its recycled PP

Lead and lithium battery recycler Ecobat has had its recycled polypropylene certified in accordance with UL 94, saying it also has achieved the highest possible requirement under the V-0 standard, which means burning stops within 10 seconds on a vertical part, allowing for drops of plastic that are not inflames.

The certificate, called Yellow Card, authorizes Ecobat to offer the plastic compound Seculene as a flame-retardant material to the electrical and automotive industries.

Seculene uses the Budit 6 series additive from German specialty chemicals company Budenheim. Budit 667 is a halogen-free, intumescent flame retardant that forms a foamed, charred layer on the surface in the event of a fire. This prevents air from reaching the combustible material and releasing toxic combustion gases, Ecobat says. As a result, fuel is no longer supplied to the fire, and it cannot spread. The resulting foam provides additional thermal insulation.

The secondary plastic not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also costs for users.

The PP compound is used in batteries for e-bikes, where the individual modules are installed between a honeycomb-like mesh made of the PP compound. The automotive industry also has the sustainable plastic on its radar, with Seculene having been one of the 25 “Products to Watch” at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg, Germany.