Hexabromobiphenyl (C12H4Br6, CAS No. 36355-01-8), one of 101 PBBs compounds in the CAS Registry system, is the main component of the commercial PBB mixtures tested in animal carcinogenicity studies as FireMaster FF-1 (FireMaster was registered as a trademark by the Michigan Chemical Corporation, St. Louis, MI). FireMaster FF-1 was produced by grinding FireMaster BP-6, the other main commercial hexabromobiphenyl PBB mixture (of which the major components were 4.0% pentabromobiphenyls, 62.6% hexabromobiphenyls, and 33.4% heptabromobiphenyls) and blending it with 2% calcium polysilicate as an anticaking agent (NTP 1993).
Hexabromobiphenyl was the primary component of the two major products previously used as fire retardants in business-machine housings and in industrial and electrical products. PBBs were also used in smaller amounts as a fire retardant in lacquers and coatings, and in automobile upholstery (ATSDR 2004).
White solid or tan powder.
Simple aromatic halogenated organic compounds, such as HEXABROMOBIPHENYL, are very unreactive. Reactivity generally decreases with increased degree of substitution of halogen for hydrogen atoms. Materials in this group may be incompatible with strong oxidizing and reducing agents. Also, they may be incompatible with many amines, nitrides, azo/diazo compounds, alkali metals, and epoxides.
Literature sources indicate that HEXABROMOBIPHENYL is nonflammable.
