Clariant claims PU foams breakthrough
06/10/2014
A report by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on flame retardants in flexible foam has identified Exolit OP 560 as “a safer alternative” to traditional products such as pentabromo diphenylether (pentaBDE).
Clariant explained on making the announcement that Exolit OP 560 works better because it is a reactive flame retardant that eliminates unwanted emissions since it becomes chemically bonded within the polymeric polyurethane foam structure. As a result, the Exolit OP 560 cannot leave the foam during use and therefore cannot bioaccumulate in humans. Exolit OP is also halogen-free, and has a more favorable toxicological and environmental profile, the company said.
“Exolit OP 560 is not only halogen-free but becomes an integral part of the PU foam, creating possibilities to produce flexible foams with locked-in fire protection without the environmental and health concerns of traditional flame retardants,” said Adrian Beard, head of marketing for flame retardants at Clariant. “The US-EPA report is a step forward in easing the identification of safer alternatives by PU foam producers and end-users.”
Clariant also said it is looking to expand capacity to meet increasing demand in the move toward more environmentally friendly and sustainable PU foams.
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