BioFire technology

Mechanism, material properties, and tuning options

Factory illustration showing the BioFire production process

Modular production unit that converts wastewater sludge into functional biopolymers for the flame retardant industry.

Summary

BioFire is a functional biopolymer extracted from wastewater biomass (bacterial extracellular polymeric substances, EPS) and processed into a flame-retardant ingredient for polymer systems. It is designed to integrate into formulations with minimal disruption while delivering multi-mechanism fire protection.

Uncoated
Coated with synthetic flame retardant
Coated with BioFire (achieves flame retardancy through charring)

Test subject: cork
Flame application time: 10 seconds (applied equally to each sample)
Cork is widely used in construction and transport industries as insulation material

Uncoated
Coated with synthetic flame retardant
Coated with BioFire (prevents dripping and maintains structure)

Test subject: PET foam
Flame application time: 10 seconds (applied equally to each sample)
PET is widely used in construction and transport industries as insulation material

Development Approach

Fire performance must be validated in the final product as the interaction with the base material affects performance. We co-develop formulations with partners (you) and test against the relevant standards for the target market e.g. EN 13501, EN 45545, etc.

Flame-Retardant Mechanism

  • Condensed-phase protection forms a stabilizing char layer that insulates and slows heat and mass transfer.
  • Synergy from composition: proteins, polysaccharides, and inorganic fractions contribute to the combined response.

Material Properties

  • Bio-based, carbon-rich polymeric material
  • Thermally reactive with strong char-forming behavior
  • Compatible with thermoset systems and composite formulations
  • Designed to balance fire performance with processability

Product Formats & Tuning

  • Dry powder for compounding mixing e.g. extrusion
  • Aqueous dispersion for coatings and/or impregnations
  • Available across pH range (pH 2 - 10)
  • Adjustable formulation for salt sensitive applications
  • Water soluble

Get More Details

Interested in learning more about our material specifications?

Contact Us