Decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca-BDE) is one of the larger brominated flame retardants in terms of production volume, and belongs to the group of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Its molecular structure is shown below:
Deca-BDE is very effective and versatile, with two main areas of application; plastics and textiles.
In plastics, Deca-BDE is used for electrical and electronic equipment (housings of computers, TV set, etc), in the transportation sector (i.e. automotive industry) and in construction and building products (i.e. wires and cables, pipes, etc).
In textiles, Deca-BDE is used in contract textiles (curtains, carpets and wall coverings), in public buildings and transportation, and in upholstered furniture. It allows textiles to comply with fire safety standards in public places and in public buildings. It is also used to comply with more stringent fire safety requirements for home upholstered furniture in countries such as Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
For an update on the regulatory status of Deca-BDE in Europe, please refer to the RoHS Directive and DECA-BDE in regulatory centre.
For more detailed information on Deca-BDE, please go to:
