Melamine Cyanurate (MCA) is the industry-standard, halogen-free flame retardant for polyamides. It is a salt complex of melamine and cyanuric acid, known for its excellent electrical properties and non-blooming characteristics.

Flame Retardant Mechanism MCA’s mechanism is not intumescent. It is a unique physical mechanism:

1. Endothermic Sublimation: At high temperatures (above 350°C), MCA undergoes endothermic sublimation (turns directly from a solid to a gas). This process absorbs a large amount of heat energy, acting as a “heat sink” and cooling the polymer.

2. Gas Dilution: The massive volume of non-flammable gases (melamine and cyanuric acid) released at the flame front dilutes the fuel/oxygen mixture, effectively “starving” the flame.

Key Application Areas

• Polyamides (PA6 & PA66): The primary choice for unfilled PA6 and PA66, especially where color stability, good electrical properties (high CTI), and UL 94 V-0 are required.

• Electrical & Electronic (E&E): Extensively used in switches, connectors, circuit breakers, and housings.