LANXESS to Showcase Range of Flame Retardants for PUR Industry at UTECH Europe

Leverkusen -- Specialty chemicals company LANXESS will exhibit its range of flame retardants for the polyurethane industry at UTECH Europe in Maastricht, the Netherlands, from April 17 to 19, 2012. "The focus of our exhibition at this key fair for the polyurethane industry is on low-emission flame retardants, which have an outstanding eco-toxicological profile. This is of particular significance for the automotive and construction sectors. We see great growth potential for polyurethane applications in these market segments, with the megatrends mobility and urbanization playing a major role," says Jorge Nogueira, head of the Functional Chemicals (FCC) business unit.

2012 is a special year for polyurethanes: the sector is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Professor Otto Bayers first patent application in 1937 giving a detailed description of the basic chemistry behind polyurethane manufacture. With its company history, FCC has since accompanied developments in polyurethane chemistry and has extensive know-how. The very broad product portfolio offers solutions for nearly all requirements of the PU sector, both for rigid and flexible foam and as well as for CASE applications.

The polymer additives that came with the acquisition of the U.S. company Unitex in October 2011 round off LANXESS offer. The new products that augment the specialty chemicals companys range for the polyurethane industry include Uniplex FRP 45, an effective, thermostable flame retardant for rigid polyurethane foam applications that can also be used in combination with phosphates and the benzoate-based plasticizers Uniplex 988S and Uniplex 400.

LANXESS subsidiary Rhein Chemie will present its range of services for the polyurethane industry in Maastricht at its own stand. Among the items presented will be the new "Rhein Chemie WebShop" online ordering system and the new additive BioAdimide for the manufacturing of polyurethanes.

Effective products for sustainable solutions

LANXESS Levagard flame retardants are particularly suitable for use in rigid polyurethane foams. They allow customized products that combine the unrivaled insulating properties of rigid PU foam with compliance with fire propagation regulations. Due to their low heat conductivity PU materials are among the leading commercial insulation materials for insulation applications. By adding Levagard, they can pass the requisite fire tests and then be used as construction materials.

Levagard DMPP, a highly effective, halogen-free flame retardant with an extremely high phosphorus content, is especially suitable for rigid PU foams, coatings, adhesives, epoxy resins and other thermosets owing to its low viscosity. It is also ideal in combination with inorganic flame retardants, such as aluminum hydroxide. According to Dr. Heiko Tebbe, head of Technical Service & Development in the Phosphorous Chemicals business line at FCC, "as a result of Levagard DMPPs lower viscosity, higher concentrations of these halogen-free additives can be used in the matrix polymer." Typical applications include sandwich panels with a core made of PU rigid foam for hall constructions, cold stores and cells, and PU bonding foam.

Levagard TEP-Z is gaining in importance as ever stricter requirements are placed on everyday products. The halogen-free, low-viscosity additive with a high flame retardant effect and very high phosphorus content is used, among other applications, in rigid PIR/polyurethane foams and is achieving above-average growth.

A Bayfomox Coating system lends polyurethane insulating boards three important properties in one manufacturing step, when in the past several separate operations were necessary. The properties in question are good thermal insulation, high fire resistance and acoustic insulation to DIN EN ISO 10534-2. Coating with the innovative Bayfomox system is suitable for the manufacture of insulating boards with a fire resistance rating according to Class F45-F60 for floors, walls and sloping and flat roofs. "The two-component system can be modified by the customer, e.g. through the addition of water or a cell regulator and the variation of the isocyanate-polyol ratio, thereby enabling customized adjustment of the foam density, softness and cell density of the coating," explains Tebbe.

The halogen-free phosphoric esters of the Disflamoll range are suitable for a large number of applications. They have proved particularly effective both in rigid and flexible polyurethane foam applications and in coatings, adhesives and sealants. When used in CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers) applications, the flame retardants Disflamoll TOF and Disflamoll DPK demonstrate both a plasticizing and flame-retardant effect.

The phthalate-free plasticizer Mesamoll is used in polyurethane production as a rinsing agent and sealing liquid in reaction molding machines. It prevents the formation of isocyanate crystals and thus maintains the functionality and value of the unit.

The FCC business unit belongs to LANXESS Performance Chemicals segment, which achieved total sales in fiscal 2010 of EUR 1.98 billion.

About LANXESS

LANXESS is one of the leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.1 billion in 2010 and currently around 16,100 employees in 30 countries. The company is at present represented at 47 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. LANXESS is a member of the leading sustainable indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World and FTSE4Good.

Source: LANXESS