Low-Halogen ≠ Halogen-Free: Where Exactly Is the Compliance Boundary for Halogenated Flame Retardants?

1Why "low-halogen" and "halogen-free" must be written separately

1

2

In flame retardant product statements, "halogenated" carries weight. A customer receiving a document first looks at whether it can meet their compliance requirements—especially customers in electrical & electronics, film, textiles and halogen-free system modification, where halogen-free is often not a bonus item but an entry requirement.

But actual product lines are not black-and-white. On Californium Curium's flame retardant and flame retardant masterbatch lines, one model has special status: M922 low-halogen flame retardant masterbatch. It is halogenated (the compounded system contains bromine; see Section 4); relative to conventional halogenated systems, it simply falls into the lower halogen content tier, so it is labelled "low-halogen" rather than "halogen-free". These two terms are not interchangeable at the terminology level: putting a bromine-containing system into a customer's halogen-free list will lead to testing, returns and liability.

This article does three things: first, it separates the terms and criteria of "halogen", "halogenated" and "halogen-free"; second, it identifies which models in Californium Curium's lines are labelled halogen-free and which are not, presenting the data model by model; third, it separately clarifies the special item of fluorine-containing (R77F). Every value and quotation in this article can be traced back to the source document page numbers, and a clause-by-clause source table is appended at the end.

2Definition level: halogen, halogenated, halogen-free

3

Halogen elements include fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I) and other elements in the same group; this is basic chemistry. In the flame retardant industry, however, "halogen-free" never targets the entire halogen group, but specifically chlorine and bromine—because the oldest and highest-volume halogenated flame retardant systems in the field are chlorine- and bromine-containing systems (bromine-containing examples include polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers), which generate toxic fumes such as hydrogen halide during combustion.

This can be read directly in Californium Curium's source documents, and the wording is identical in three places:

R911 (PE halogen-free flame retardant) overview: "With a hindered amine compound as the core component, it contains no halogens (chlorine, bromine, etc.)"; the performance characteristics column also states: "Halogen-free and environmentally friendly: contains no halogens, does not release toxic hydrogen halide gas during combustion, and has low smoke emission."

R912B (PET halogen-free flame retardant) overview: "This product is a halogen-free flame retardant specifically developed for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) materials and contains no halogens (chlorine, bromine, etc.)."

R915 (transparent halogen-free flame retardant dedicated to PET/PETG): "Core component: polyol phosphate ester (additive-type organophosphorus system, halogen-free and heavy-metal-free)"; the third core advantage states: "Halogen-free environmentally friendly flame retardancy: pure organophosphorus system, free of chlorine, bromine and antimony; no halogenated toxic fume during combustion, low smoke density, meets halogen-free flame retardant control requirements."

(Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09, PDF page 53, printed page -49-; page 56, printed page -52-; page 57, printed page -53-)

Therefore, the first discipline at the terminology level is: when saying "halogen-free", one must also be able to state clearly whether it means "free of chlorine and bromine" or "free of the entire halogen group". The most common confusion in the industry is mixing these two statements.

3Criteria level: Br+Cl < 900 ppm and total halogen < 1500 ppm

Outer bar = total amount, inner bar = a part of it; the difference between the two = the rest, the right end marks the remaining amount.

Total… ≤ 1500 ppmSubitemBr + Cl ≤ 900 ppmUnit unified as ppm · Nested bars only express inclusion relationship; detection scope of two limit values follows source text, no conversion performed.Bar length indicates inclusion relationship, two bars are not additive

• … ≤ 1500 ppm
• Br + Cl ≤ 900 ppm
• Unit unified as ppm · Nested bars only express inclusion relationship; detection scope of two limit values follows source text, no conversion performed.
• Bar length indicates inclusion relationship, two bars are not additive

• Total halogens1500 ppm
• Br + Cl900 ppm

Chart data (source text verbatim)

Level	Limit
Total halogens	≤ 1500 ppm
Br + Cl	≤ 900 ppm

Source textScale 0–1500 ppm

Scale = criterion limit (unit ppm); the side marked in red = exceedance direction; values are taken directly from source criteria.

Both tiers satisfiedNeither tier satisfied025050075010001250ppmBr+Cl ＜ 900 ppm…Fig. Halogen-free criterion ppm red line← Lower value means more "halogen-free"; dashed line = red line from source, segment = judgment interval cut by red lineClaim permitted only below the red line: Halogen-free threshold

• Br+Cl ＜ 900 ppm
• Fig. Halogen-free criterion ppm red line
• ← Lower value means more "halogen-free"; dashed line = red line from source, segment = judgment interval cut by red line
• Claim permitted only below the red line:

• Br+Cl＜ 900 ppm

Chart data (source text verbatim)

Criterion	Limit	Description
Br+Cl	＜ 900 ppm	Criterion: Br+Cl 900 ppm

Main text criteria layerScale 0–900 ppm

4

For a descriptor to become verifiable, there must be criteria. In Californium Curium's documents, the only place where "halogen-free" is expressed numerically is the "Environmental Compliance" section of R915, quoted verbatim as follows:

Halogen-free

meets the IEC 61249 halogen-free standard, Br+Cl < 900ppm, total halogen < 1500ppm;

RoHS 2.0

free of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers;

REACH

does not contain SVHC substances of very high concern;

Combustion behaviour

halogen-free low smoke, does not generate dioxin-like toxic products.

(Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09, PDF page 58, printed page -54-; the same page content also appears in Flame Retardant Series, PDF page 6)

In the "Key Physical and Chemical Indicators" table for R915, there is an even stronger piece of evidence: test item "halogen content", technical parameter "not detected (halogen-free)", test standard "IEC 61249-2-21". (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09, PDF page 57, printed page -53-; Flame Retardant Series, PDF page 5, printed page -53-)

When using this criterion, three technical points must be clarified first; otherwise the values will be invalid.

First, what is the denominator. The same "900 ppm" may yield completely different conclusions depending on whether it is calculated on the additive powder, on the masterbatch, or on the final finished article—a masterbatch is an intermediate that is let down into resin at a ratio, and the halogen content in the finished article depends on both the masterbatch's own content and the let-down ratio. On the R915 page, the document only states "meets the IEC 61249 halogen-free standard", without specifying the level at which this is calculated; this item is not listed in the source and can be supplemented with a separate test report.

Second, the test item and the test object must correspond. Polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers are two classes of substances explicitly restricted by RoHS; "total halogen < 1500ppm" is a total-content metric. The two cannot substitute for each other: being free of polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers does not mean the total halogen content will pass 1500 ppm.

Third, coverage. The above four criteria are the compliance statement for the single model R915; the source documents do not extend them to the whole series, nor do they provide the same wording for other halogen-free models. When citing, do not use one page to infer the entire line. (Source: same as above)

4M922: the only model labelled low-halogen

In Californium Curium's product catalogue, the original entry for M922 reads: "M922: PP low-halogen flame retardant masterbatch—PP corrugated pipe, hollow sheet, fibre spinning, film, injection moulding." (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4, PDF page 3, catalogue page)

Its technical data sheet (TDS) is reproduced below:

【Overview】 "M922 masterbatch is made from our self-produced flame retardant R912 and belongs to a phosphorus-nitrogen-bromine compounded flame retardant system. It is antimony-free and complies with the RoHS standard. Its flame retardant mechanism uses dual solid-phase and gas-phase synergism to improve flame retardant efficiency, assisted by appropriate catalytic reaction to accelerate resin melt drip and quickly carry away heat, thereby achieving high-efficiency flame retardancy."

【Comparison with conventional systems】 "Compared with conventional octabromodiphenyl ether system masterbatches, M922 has low halogen content, is antimony-free, has light specific gravity, does not exude, has low smoke emission and low mould corrosion; the product has high gloss, is easy to process, and offers high cost-performance."

The corresponding English line in the document reads: "Compared with traditional octabromodiphenyl ether system masterbatches, M922 features lower halogen content, is antimony-free, has a lighter specific gravity, exhibits no blooming, has low smoke emission, and has low corrosiveness to molds." —in which "lower halogen content" is the English wording for "low halogen"; note that the word is lower, not free.

【Physical and chemical properties and applications】 Appearance: white cylindrical granules; dosage: homopolymer 3.5%, homopolymer-copolymer blend 4-6%, copolymer 8%; environmental standard: RoHS; flame retardant rating: UL94 V2; application fields: PP corrugated pipe, hollow sheet, fibre spinning, film, injection moulding.

【Product specifications】 Effective flame retardant content 25; density 1.10 g/cm³; moisture content ≤0.1%; melting point ≥160℃; melt flow index 15 g/min (200℃, 5kg); decomposition temperature 230℃ (TGA1%).

【Packaging】 25 kg/bag, PE double-layer bag.

(Source: Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4, PDF page 13, printed page -9-)

(Additional fact that is easily asked: the document states that "M922 masterbatch is made from our self-produced flame retardant R912", while R912 itself is a transparent halogen-free flame retardant for PET/PETG/TPU and contains no halogens. In other words, M922's compounded system contains a bromine-containing component separately, and the halogen-free attribute of R912 cannot be used to infer the same for M922. This compounding detail is not expanded in the source documents, and this item is not listed.)

5Nine Models Genuinely Labelled as Halogen-Free

X-axis = Dosage, Y-axis = Processing Window; scatter points = paired data from source text; dashed line = fit line (correlation coefficient see figure caption).

1020150200250R911R912R912BR915R940X-axis Dosage / %Y-axis Processing Window / ℃ · Trend line only describes 5 points in this table, r = -0.995, do not extrapolate ·Use the median of the interval values; the median is not the original source value, only used to see the trend.

• X-axis Dosage / %
• Y-axis Processing Window / ℃ · Trend line only describes 5 points in this table, r = -0.995, do not extrapolate ·
• Use the median of the interval values; the median is not the original source value, only used to see the trend.

• R911(15, 175)
• R912(4.5, 255)
• R912B(3.25, 255)
• R915(1.5, 257.5)
• ... 5 items in total, all data are shown in the table below.

Chart data (source text verbatim)

Object	Dosage (%)·Median	Processing Window (℃)·Median
R911	15	175
R912	4.5	255
R912B	3.25	255
R915	1.5	257.5
R940	22.5	120

Source textScale 1.5–22.5 %

X-axis = dimension %; colored band = target interval where the object can fall; points outside the band = portions that cannot be reached.

16.2511.516.7522%Target band5101520R91110–20%R912B1.5–5%X-axis same dimension % ·X-axis scale based on this article's max (1.5–20 %); do not directly compare lengths across articles.

• Target band
• X-axis same dimension % ·
• X-axis scale based on this article's max (1.5–20 %); do not directly compare lengths across articles.

• R91110–20 %
• R912B1.5–5 %

Chart data (source text verbatim)

Object	Range
R911	10–20 %
R912B	1.5–5 %

Source textScale 1–22 %

halogen-free / contains no halogens

Flame Retardant Series

(Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 53, printed -49-; pp. 54–55, printed -50-/-51-; p. 56, printed -52-; pp. 57–58, printed -53-/-54-; pp. 59–60, printed -55-/-56-)

One restriction for R940 must be stated explicitly: the document notes, "R940 must not be used in addition-cure silicone (platinum-catalysed) systems due to toxicity risk." (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 60, printed -56-)

Halogen-Free Flame Retardant Masterbatches

Model	Base Resin & System	Flame Retardant Effect	Processing Temperature	Specific Gravity / MFI
M911	PE; hindered amine flame retardant + hindered amine light stabiliser + LLDPE, pelletised after high-efficiency dispersion	UL94V1	<250℃	0.89 g/cm³ / 6.9 g/10min
M915	PETG; phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant + hyperdispersant + PETG resin, high-shear extrusion pelletising through a 200-mesh screen	UL94V0	<280℃	1.21 g/cm³ / 62.8 g/10min
M918	PA6 nylon; phosphate flame retardant + hyperdispersant + PA6 resin, high-shear pelletising through a 350-mesh screen	UL94V0	<325℃	1.22 g/cm³
M933	PP; phosphorus-based flame retardant + a small amount of synergist, surface-coated and then pelletised with PP carrier	Meets halogen-free, melamine-free and sulfate-residue-free requirements	Store in a cool, dry place protected from moisture	—

(Source: Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4 PDF, p. 5, printed -1-; p. 6, printed -2-; p. 7, printed -3-; p. 14, printed -10-)

For M911, the same page contains a usage caution that is the opposite of the other models, quoted as follows: "In the formulation, it is best not to combine with flammable or combustion-supporting ingredients such as waxes, esters, aluminium oxide, etc.; it must not be combined with anti-drip agents, and it is not suitable for fibre reinforcement. If such combination is unavoidable, first conduct trials to confirm compliance with product requirements before use." (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4 PDF, p. 5, printed -1-)

Application and Storage/Transport Notes for the Nine Models, Quoted Item by Item

R911

Suitable for various PE films (packaging film, shrink film, protective film, agricultural mulch film, etc.) and PE thin sheets and ultra-thin articles (electronic insulating sheet, lightweight packaging sheet, etc.). Addition method: thoroughly mix with PE pellets and feed directly into a blown-film machine or extruder, then process into film by melt compounding. Store in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place, avoid moisture and direct sunlight; shelf life: 12 months. Wear dust masks and gloves during handling. Packaging: 25 kg PE double-layer bags. (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 53, printed -49-)

R912

The application scope covers three areas — PET (flame-retardant film, sheet, fibre spinning, yarn), PETG (flame-retardant transparent sheet, decorative profile, thick packaging sheet, optically translucent fittings), and TPU (flame-retardant cable sheathing, flame-retardant film, hose, footwear material, elastomer articles). Recommended process: directly mix the powder with the base resin at high speed until uniform, then extrude into masterbatch or direct modified pelletising; no additional equipment modification is required. Formulation recommendation: it can be combined with charring agents and anti-drip additives to further improve the V0 pass rate and anti-drip performance. The document also states: "This product is a dripping-type flame retardant; if non-dripping is required, this product can only be used as a flame retardant synergist." Packaging: 25 kg/bag (inner thickened PE moisture-proof bag, outer wear-resistant woven bag); shelf life: 12 months. (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 55, printed -51-)

R912B

Application scope: PET fibre (flame-retardant apparel fabrics, curtain fibre, industrial filter media, etc.), PET film (flame-retardant packaging film, electrical insulating film, etc.), and PET sheet (decorative panel surfaces, etc.). Addition method: thoroughly mix with PET chips during the melt-processing stage of the PET resin, then melt-compound in a twin-screw extruder and pelletise. Packaging: 25 kg PE double-layer bags; shelf life: 12 months. (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 56, printed -52-)

R915

Four typical application groups — transparent PET/PETG injection-moulded parts (lamp housings, transparent electronic enclosures, cosmetic packaging, instrument windows), extruded transparent sheet and board (advertising light-transmitting panels, decorative transparent sheet, equipment protective panels), cast PET film and high-transparency flame-retardant packaging film, optical protective film, transparent flame-retardant polyester pipe, profiles and 3D-printing PETG filament. Key compounding points: dry the base material at 120℃ for 4–6 h in advance to a moisture content ≤0.03%; mix with pellets at high speed for 5–8 min before feeding; use a low-shear polyester-specific screw; alternatively, first prepare a 20%–30% flame-retardant masterbatch. Packaging: 25 kg composite woven bag with inner PE liner; storage temperature ≤30℃; shelf life: 12 months; transport as ordinary non-hazardous chemical. (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, pp. 57–58, printed -53-/-54-)

R940

Application fields: UV light-curing coatings, inks, UV coatings for wood and plastics, polyurethane adhesives, sealants, PU potting compounds, composite matrix resins, electronic component encapsulation, glass-fibre-reinforced resins, transparent flame-retardant adhesives and 3D-printing photocurable resins. Three usage notes — do not heat above 120℃ for extended periods to prevent self-polymerisation; avoid strongly alkaline substances in the formulation wherever possible; if a higher flame retardant rating is required, it can be compounded with a small amount of aluminium hydroxide or phosphate ester. Packaging: 25 kg plastic drum; shelf life: 6 months under sealed conditions. If the shelf life is exceeded, first conduct a small-scale trial to confirm there is no gelling and viscosity is normal before use. (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 60, printed -56-)

M911

Mainly used in cast film, blown film, extrusion coating, wire drawing and similar articles. (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4 PDF, p. 5, printed -1-)

M915

Compounded from a phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant, hyperdispersant, PETG resin, etc., and pelletised by high-shear extrusion through a 200-mesh screen; mainly used in PETG pipe, PETG film, injection-moulded parts and similar articles. (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4 PDF, p. 6, printed -2-)

M918

Mainly used in fibre spinning, film, extrusion casting, injection moulding and similar articles; the document states, "M918 is an all-organic flame retardant, and its flame retardant mechanism is the dripping type." (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4 PDF, p. 7, printed -3-)

M933

Suitable for high-end flame-retardant PP requirements, especially in sheet, fibre spinning and other industries; the advantages column states: "environmentally friendly, low dosage, easy processing, good physical and mechanical properties." (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4 PDF, p. 14, printed -10-)

6Two Things Easily Misclassified as Halogen-Free

The first category: R218 flame retardant synergist. It is not a "halogen-free flame retardant"; it must not be placed on the halogen-free model list. The source text states: "This product is an environmentally friendly phosphorus-silicon-based flame retardant with a significant synergistic effect when used with halogenated flame retardants, and it also shows excellent smoke-suppression and char-forming properties." The usage column is even clearer: "In plastic halogen flame retardant systems, R218 is mainly used to partially replace antimony trioxide. It is suitable for various flame-retardant polymers including PE, PP, PVC, ABS, PBT and PET, and can replace 50% to 70% of antimony trioxide at a 1:1 ratio... In halogen-free flame retardant systems, R218 can be used together with phosphorus-based and intumescent flame retardants to achieve rapid charring, oxygen barrier and smoke suppression." — one model used across both halogenated and halogen-free routes is a "synergist"; classifying it as a "halogen-free model" would make the entire list meaningless.

Quotable parameters for R218: main component aluminium phosphosilicate, chemical formula Al(SiO₂)PO₄·2H₂O, density approx. 2.6–3.2 g/cm³, melting point usually in the range of 1300–1600℃, pH 6.5-7, compliant with the EU 2002/95/EC and REACH environmental regulations, packaging 25 kg/bag, shelf life generally 2 years. (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 61, printed -57-)

The second category: models marked "fluorine-free". For example, the first sentence of the R902 overview is "Plastic modifier R902 (fluorine-free product)." (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 71, printed -67-) This is a separate designation made by the company on the "fluorine-containing / fluorine-free" line; it is not the same thing as "halogen-free", and neither can be inferred from the other — this is expanded in the next section.

7The Fluorine Boundary: How to Use the R77F Statement

Fluorine belongs to the halogen group, but in the "halogen-free" wording for flame retardants, the criteria fall on chlorine and bromine (see the 900 ppm / 1500 ppm source text in Section 3). The fluorine line is handled separately by Californium Curium as "fluorine-containing ions":

For R77F air-permeable water- and oil-repellent agent, the main body of the document gives only composition and physical properties, quoted item by item: main components — silicon dioxide 27.5%, hydrogenated organosilicon 56%, magnesium oxide 16.5%; appearance: white powder; bulk density (approximate value) approx. 330 g/l; specific surface area 230+25 m²/g; moisture content: after 2 hours at 105℃, <3Wt.%; loss on ignition: material dried at 105℃ for 2 hours then ignited at 1000℃ for 2 hours, <72Wt.%; pH value in a 4% dispersion: 4.2-5.8; SiO₂ content based on ignited material: >28Wt.%; [dosage] 0.8%—1% of the final plastic article; [packaging] 10 kg/bag. (Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 65, printed -61-; the same page also appears in Californium Curium – Comprehensive Series PDF, p. 4, printed -61-)

The unified external statement (already implemented in the official website data layer): contains fluorine-containing ions (free of perfluorinated and organofluorine compounds; can pass the perfluorinated-compound check). This statement has three key points: first, it describes "functional components in the form of fluoride ions", not elemental fluorine in the chemical sense; second, it explicitly excludes two classes of substances — perfluorinated compounds (PFCs/PFAS class) and organofluorine compounds (PFOA and PFOS belong to this class); third, "can pass the perfluorinated-compound check" is an executable acceptance action, not an adjective.

At the same time, two boundaries must be drawn: first, this statement applies only to the R77F model and must not be expanded into a description of the "fluorine status of the whole series"; second, in the same document there is another group of models explicitly marked "fluorine-free product" (such as R902 in the previous section). The two statements coexist and must be applied model by model; do not apply one model’s statement to another model (the test standard and report number used for R77F’s "perfluorinated-compound check" are not listed in the document).

8Compliance Questionnaire: Five Things Customers and Procurement Should Clarify

Moved from the bodyCompliance inquiry: five things to clarify · full paragraph moved up

1. 01Ask "which halogen" and do not accept adjectives. Require the other party to answer for chlorine and bromine separately: is it "free of chlorine and bromine" or "free of the entire halogen group"? This is a wording difference at the document level (compare the three source-text passages in Section 2).
2. 02Ask "by what standard and on what basis". When using IEC 61249’s Br+Cl <900ppm and total halogen <1500ppm as references, first clarify whether the calculation is based on the additive, the masterbatch or the final article; the three bases will give three different conclusions.
3. 03Ask "are there ppm measured values and a report number?" In the documents, only R915 has halogen-free pinned to "not detected (halogen-free) + IEC 61249-2-21"; the other models are self-declared statements, and one must not conclude "passed" on behalf of the customer.
4. 04Ask "do synergists and auxiliary additives count?" A halogen-free main flame retardant does not mean the system is halogen-free — R218 is a synergist used across both halogenated and halogen-free routes.
5. 05Ask "processing window and exudation". Flame retardant rating and processing temperature are linked: R915 must not remain above 290℃ for extended periods (it will yellow); R912B is recommended to be controlled at 230℃-280℃ (20-30℃ lower than conventional PET processing temperature); for R200 in a PP matrix, 180-200℃ is recommended, and avoid high temperatures (>220℃) that may cause decomposition of organophosphorus components.

5

The following is a concise script that can be used directly with suppliers:

(Source: Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09 PDF, p. 58, printed -54-; p. 56, printed -52-; p. 51, printed -47-)

Finally, one more precaution: the most common mistake on this topic is to use "low-halogen" as if it were "halogen-free". Low-halogen is a relative-level description (low halogen content relative to conventional systems), whereas halogen-free is a criterion-based description (compared against a threshold in a specific standard). Between the two lies a ppm test report.

Compliance word list: what each of the six adjectives corresponds to

The adjectives appearing in the customer’s documents each correspond to specific wording and model references in the source documents. Putting them into a table is quicker than memorising terminology:

Adjective	Source wording in the document	Model / page reference
Halogen-free	“Contains no halogens (chlorine, bromine, etc.)” “No halogens, no heavy metals”; the one numerical statement is “meets IEC 61249 halogen-free standard, Br+Cl <900ppm, total halogen <1500ppm”	R911 (-49-), R912B (-52-), R915 (-53-/-54-), R940 (-55-)
Low-halogen	“M922: PP low-halogen flame retardant masterbatch”; “Compared with conventional octabromodiphenyl ether system masterbatch, it has a low halogen content”; English counterpart “lower halogen content”	M922 (masterbatch catalogue -9-)
Antimony-free	“Antimony-free, complies with ROHS standard” “Antimony-free, light specific gravity”	M922 (masterbatch catalogue -9-); for the associated substitution pathway, see R218 (-57-, 1:1 replacement of 50% to 70% antimony trioxide; 100% replacement possible in PVC)
Heavy-metal-free	“No halogens, no heavy metals”	R915 (-53-)
Melamine-free / no sulfate residue	“Can meet halogen-free and melamine-free requirements, and can also meet the requirement of no sulfate residue”	M933 (masterbatch catalogue -10-)
Non-exuding / non-blooming	“Does not exude, low smoke emission, low mould corrosion” (M922); “No blooming, no exudation, no mould sticking” (R912); “No blooming or exudation after room-temperature and 85°C/85% RH hygrothermal ageing, no oil mist on the finished article surface” (R915); “No migration, no exudation, no blooming” (R940); “Migration rate ≤0.05% (no exudation or blooming)” (R333)	masterbatch catalogue -9-; -50-; -53-; -55-; -83-

(For the complete source references for each row, see the source table at the end; the migration-rate row for R333 is from Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09, PDF page 87, printed page -83-.)

One further point should be noted separately: of these six adjectives, only “halogen-free” has a corresponding numerical criterion in the documents (R915’s 900/1500 ppm); the remaining five are qualitative statements. For customer acceptance, the only item for which a numerical value can be provided is halogen-free; the others require additional testing or supplementary reports (not listed in the source documents).

9FAQ

phosphorus-nitrogen-bromine formulation

conventional octabromodiphenyl ether system masterbatch

Q3: R912 is halogen-free; why does M922 made from it contain bromine? The source text states: “M922 masterbatch is processed from our self-produced flame retardant R912 and belongs to a phosphorus-nitrogen-bromine flame retardant system.” The M922 formulation contains additional bromine-containing components. R912 itself (a transparent halogen-free flame retardant for PET/PETG/TPU) contains no halogen; the properties of the two cannot be inferred from each other. The formulation details are not expanded in the document and are not listed in the source.

Halogen content: not detected (halogen-free) / Test standard IEC 61249-2-21

Q5: Our product is low-halogen; can the customer’s finished article be labelled halogen-free? This conclusion should not be made by the additive manufacturer on the customer’s behalf. The denominator of the criterion is the customer’s own finished-article formulation and processing conditions; the additive supplier can only provide its own position at the document level. (Editorial position)

Q6: If R218 synergist is used in a halogen-free system, will it be regarded as halogenated? R218 itself is an environmentally friendly phosphorus-silicon flame retardant (main component aluminium phosphosilicate). The document explicitly states that it can replace antimony trioxide in halogenated systems and can also be combined with phosphorus-based and intumescent flame retardants for halogen-free systems. In classification, it is listed separately as a “synergist” and is not included in either the halogen-free model list or the halogenated model list.

halogen content is low

Antimony-free, complies with ROHS standard

Complies with EU 2002/95/EC and REACH and other environmental regulatory requirements.

low-halogen / halogen-free

10Source references (itemised for verification)

Source referen…

#	Data / quotation	Document	PDF page	Printed page
1	R911 “contains no halogens (chlorine, bromine, etc.)”, dosage 10%-20%, UL94 V-2 / FV-2, 150-200℃	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 53	-49-
2	R912 composition, phosphorus content ≥9.8%, thermal decomposition ≥285℃, tiered dosage and processing temperatures for three substrates, light transmittance loss approximately 20%	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	pages 54-55	-50-/-51-
3	R912B “contains no halogens (chlorine, bromine, etc.)”, dosage 1.5%-5%, V-0, LOI ≥38%, 230℃-280℃	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 56	-52-
4	R915 physical and chemical table (phosphorus 18%, melting point 210℃, halogen content not detected IEC 61249-2-21, ≥260℃, 325 mesh ≥98%)	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 57	-53-
5	R915 tiered dosage, processing temperature, drying and pre-mixing requirements, four environmental compliance items (Br+Cl <900ppm, total halogen <1500ppm)	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 58	-54-
6	R940 composition table (DOPO 49%/HPCTP 10%/HEMA 40%/triphenylphosphine 0.8%/MEHQ 0.2%), total phosphorus approximately 10.5%, halogen-free	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 59	-55-
7	R940 two dosage sets, system total phosphorus 1.5-3.0% achieves V-0, prohibition of addition-cure silicone (platinum catalyst) systems	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 60	-56-
8	R218 positioning (environmentally friendly phosphorus-silicon system, synergistic with halogen systems), replacement ratio 1:1 replacing 50% to 70%, PVC 100%, physical properties and packaging	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 61	-57-
9	R77F composition and physical properties, addition content 0.8%-1%	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 65	-61-
10	R902 “(fluorine-free product)” label	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 71	-67-
11	M922 catalogue entry “PP low-halogen flame retardant masterbatch”	Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4	page 3	contents page
12	M922 TDS full text (phosphorus-nitrogen-bromine formulation, antimony-free, low halogen content, three dosage tiers, UL94 V2, physical property table)	Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4	page 13	-9-
13	M933 TDS (halogen-free / melamine-free / no sulfate residue, 15-25%, 0.4mm sheet, 25 parts, drips do not ignite cotton)	Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4	page 14	-10-
14	M911 TDS (10%-25%, UL94V1, <250℃, 0.89/6.9) and compatibility/contraindication reminder	Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4	page 5	-1-
15	M915 TDS (6%-10%, UL94V0, <280℃, 1.21/62.8)	Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4	page 6	-2-
16	M918 TDS (8%-12%, UL94V0, <325℃, 1.22, 350 mesh filter screen, dripping type)	Californium Curium – Functional Masterbatch 1.05-4	page 7	-3-
17	R200 recommended compounding temperature 180-200℃, avoid >220℃	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 51	-47-
18	R912 applicable scope for three substrates, recommended processing, formulation suggestions, dripping-type limitations, packaging and shelf life	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 55	-51-
19	R912B applicable scope (PET fibre/film/sheet), addition method and packaging	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 56	-52-
20	R915 four typical applications, compounding key points (drying 120℃/4-6h, moisture ≤0.03%, 5-8min, low-shear screw, 20%-30% masterbatch), storage and transport	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 58	-54-
21	R940 application fields, three usage notes, packaging and 6-month shelf life	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 60	-56-
22	R333 technical specification “migration rate ≤0.05% (no exudation or blooming)”	Californium Curium – Functional Additives 1.09	page 87	-83-

Note: All values and quotations in this article come only from the documents listed above and do not include pricing information, customer names or third-party certification numbers. Sentences marked “Editorial position” are editorial wording, not original text from the documents.

11Document boundary notes

1. 01M922’s ppm-level halogen content measured values and third-party test report number—the document contains only the qualitative statement “low halogen content” and the English counterpart “lower halogen content”.
2. 02The specific names and proportions of the bromine-containing components in the M922 formulation, and its compounding relationship with R912.
3. 03Halogen ppm test reports and applicable standards for the other eight halogen-free models (R911/R912/R912B/R940/M911/M915/M918/M933).
4. 04The denominator basis on which R915 “meets IEC 61249 halogen-free standard” is calculated (additive / masterbatch / final finished article).
5. 05The test standard number and report referred to for R77F “can pass the perfluorinated compound check”.
6. 06The full set of test specimen thicknesses and testing bodies for the UL94 flame retardant ratings of each model.