Applications

Printed Circuit Boards

TBBPA contributes to the fire safety of all systems requiring Flame Retardant 4 (FR-4), a type of material used for making printed circuit boards. It is therefore used in a wide range of electrical and electronic equipment and installations, such as consumer electronics (TV sets, PC, washing machines, etc) and office and communication equipment (copiers, computers, printers, fax machines, radios, etc).  It is also used in high tech devices, such as, wind turbines and defence systems.

The main application of TBBPA is in printed circuit boards or laminates. It is used in more than 95% of FR-4 printed circuit boards, the most commonly used board in electronic devices. In this application, TBBPA is an integral part of the epoxy resin it  therefore no longer exists as a free chemical in the final board, but forms part of the polymeric backbone of the resin.

TBBPA’s role is becoming increasingly important in today’s trend towards miniaturization of electronics in which the use of loaded and condensed laminates produce more heat source in the electronic devices.

ABS Plastics

TBBPA is used as an additive flame retardant mainly in Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS plastics housings) which is a common thermoplastic used to make light, rigid, molded products such as piping.  These plastics have to comply with stringent fire safety standards such as UL 94 V0 - a Standard for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances. As with all brominated flame retardants, TBBPA provides the necessary fire performance regarding the UL 94 standards.

Intermediate for Brominated Flame Retardant (BFR) Production

TBBPA is used as an intermediate in the production of other brominated flame retardant ((BFR) systems, derivatives and brominated epoxy oligomers.