Clariant announces capacity expansion for Exolit® OP flame retardants at K 2010

Clariant announces major capacity expansion plans for its pioneering Exolit® OP non-halogenated flame retardants at K 2010. The program, which will achieve an initial doubling of capacity by 2012, reflects the significant surge in demand from the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector for safer and more environmentally-compatible flame retardants.

Phase One of the capacity increase is already underway with on-going debottlenecking at Clariant’s existing plant in Hürth-Knapsack, near Cologne, Germany, set to bring extra capacity on-stream by mid 2011. The full-scale commercial plant has been producing Exolit OP since the product’s introduction in 2004. Phase Two will see the addition of a second industrial-scale unit at the site, resulting in a doubling of current capacity during 2012.

With long-term forecasts indicating continued growth in demand, Clariant is currently exploring further opportunities to extend capacity from 2014 onwards.

Clariant is a global market leader in non-halogenated flame retardants. Its Exolit OP portfolio is highly valued for its effectiveness in providing fire protection to engineering thermoplastics like polyamides and polyesters which are used for switches, connectors, computer fans and structural parts. Further uses are in thermoset resins and new cable sheathing and insulation based on thermoplastic elastomers.

Exolit OP requires only low to moderate dosages to fulfill fire safety requirements, while addressing the ecological considerations driving the market through all phases of product lifecycle. The product range enables customers to comply with new environmental legislation, such as RoHS Regulations regarding hazardous substance content in E&E equipment, and the handling and recycling of waste of E&E equipment (WEEE). Other regions of the world have followed with or are developing similar legislation or initiatives to phase-out or restrict certain brominated flame retardants like brominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in the United States and Canada.

Exolit OP flame retardants are non-halogenated, contain no red phosphorus or heavy metals, and have a favorable environmental and health profile. They have a low impact on final product properties, do not migrate and do not produce corrosive smoke. Exolit OP does not contain any of the hazardous substances covered by RoHS legislation, such as cadmium, lead, chromium 6, mercury, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and PBDEs.

“In recent years the environmental and safety consciousness of our customers has increased significantly, leading to an unprecedented demand for our Exolit OP non-halogenated flame retardants. Interviews with key customers have indicated they will be as much as tripling their requirements over the next few years,” comments Michael Grosskopf, Head of the Business Unit Additives, Clariant International LTD. “Our capacity expansion is already underway to ensure we can meet the needs of our customers as soon as possible.”

Clariant is a founding member of the association for phosphorus, inorganic and nitrogen flame retardants (pinfa.org) which represents manufacturers and users of the three major technologies of non-halogenated flame retardants. Pinfa members share the vision of continuously improving the environmental and health profile of their flame retardant products and offering innovative solutions for sustainable fire safety.