BASF is one of the first European manufacturers to have switched its entire
portfolio of polystyrene-based insulation
products for the European market to a
new flame retardant, nine months ahead
of the deadline laid down in the EU
REACH Regulation on chemicals. Both
EPS (expandable polystyrene) products
(Styropor and Neopor) and XPS (
extruded polystyrene) products (Styrodur)
will be manufactured in Europe using
a polymeric flame retardant (PolyFR),
which has a much better environmental
profile than the HBCD (
hexabromocy-clododecane) used in the past, the company stated.
BASF completed the switchover to the
new flame retardant in close liaison with
its customers. BASF had already switched
most of its EPS range by March of this
year and has already supplied customers
throughout Europe.
According to BASF, with PolyFR, it
is possible as before to manufacture insulation materials that meet the strict fire
regulations applicable to construction
products. It will be possible in the future
to manufacture insulation materials with
this flame retardant that meet class B1
specifications under German standards
(schwerentflammbar:” difficult to ignite)
and Class E under European standards.
As it is classed as a POP (persistent organic pollutant) under the UN Environment
Program and as a svhc (substance of very
high concern) under the REACH regulation
the use of HBCD as a flame retardant in
the EU will be prohibited as of August 21,
2015 and PolyFR, which is harmless, will
be used instead. This is the outcome of several years of testing and development supported by BASF.
Although handling of the flame retardant HBCD as such is prohibited, insulation containing HBCD is harmless to
humans and the environment, both during use and during removal and energy
recovery. That is because the flame retardant is embedded in the polymer matrix.
Charles Ross & Son Co.
Introduces New Powder
Injection Mixer
Ross is offering a new high-efficiency
charging hopper for its line of High Shear
Mixers with Solids/Liquid Injection
Manifold (SLIM) Technology. The SLIM
is a unique rotor/stator device engineered
for high-speed powder injection into
liquid without the need for eductors or
pumps. The improved hopper design ensures a steady rate of feed delivery and
prevents “rat holes” or bridging of bulk
solids. Typical solids dispersed using the
SLIM include fumed silica, CMC, carbon black, graphite, talc, alginates, pectin, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate,
starch, clays, alumina, carbomers, salts,
dye powders and other additives or fillers.
The mix chamber is equipped with a
solenoid-operated multi-position modulating valve for maintaining a liquid flow
rate within 80 percent to 100 percent of
the 500 gpm design flow rate.
All product contact parts are stainless
steel 316 polished to 150-grit ( 32 Ra) finish. Tri-clamp connections on the liquid
inlet, powder inlet and mixture outlet allow for easy disassembly and cleaning. The
mixer is supplied with a cartridge-type double mechanical seal and barrier fluid tank.
BASF Launches Orange
Pigment for Industrial
Coatings Applications
BASF announced the North American
launch of Irgazin Orange EH1287 for
industrial applications, which include
agriculture, construction and earth moving equipment coatings. Irgazin Orange
EH1287 improves material flow allowing
formulators to increase pigment loading
for higher opacity and reduced production costs without negatively impacting
coating gloss. Under test conditions,
the product has also shown to foam less
when dispersed and is free of lead which
is an important sustainability point for
industrial coatings manufacturers.
Wacker Develops Water
Scavenger for Silane-Curing
Adhesives and Sealants
Wacker is expanding its product range
of functional silanes with a new arylalkoxysilane monomer. Marketed as
Geniosil XL 70, this additive is designed
as a water scavenger for silane-curing adhesive and sealant formulations. It is particularly suitable for products that must
avoid unpleasant odors when applied.
Due to its high flash point, the additive
is also easier to store and handle. The
new water scavenger is compatible with
all Geniosil silane-modified polymers and
organofunctional silanes.
Geniosil XL 70 is a clear, colorless,
low-viscosity silane which belongs to the
arylalkoxysilane group. Unlike conventional water scavengers for silane-curing
adhesives and sealants, the liquid has only
a very faint odor. Consequently, the water
scavenger is ideal for adhesives and sealants used over large areas. Compounders
can formulate products such as parquet
adhesives and liquid water-proofing systems that do not create odors with the
additive and are in line with increasingly
stringent occupational health and safety
regulations, the company said.
Additionally, Geniosil XL 70 has a
much higher flash point than conventional water scavengers, which is 96°C as
per ISO 3679. This is an advantage for
processors. For example, less effort is required to store and process the additive.
As silane-curing adhesives and sealants react with water, water scavengers
are an essential component in such
products. They protect the polymers
from moisture inherent to a formulation via fillers and other ingredients.
Moreover, water scavengers ensure
that the product can be used without
restriction throughout its given minimum shelf life. The required dosage of
Geniosil XL 70 depends on the formulation components and the desired shelf
life of the end product. CW
BASF Now Offers Fire Protection with
Improved Environmental Profile
