Dow grants third and final license for new Polymeric Flame Retardant to Albemarle

Dow Global Technologies LLC (DGTL), a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company has announced a third and final license agreement for its Polymeric Flame Retardant (Polymeric FR) technology with Albermarle Corporation. “The Polymeric FR has become the ‘next generation industry standard’ flame retardant for use in both XPS and EPS foam insulation applications globally”. Albemarle is a global leader in the development and production of flame retardants, and its commitment to this new technology, as the third and final licensee, validates the selection of the Polymeric FR as the new global industry standard flame retardant in the production of extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foams. In March, 2011, DGTL announced the invention and development of the Polymeric FR – a stable, high molecular weight, non-PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic) substance. The additive provides a fire safety solution for XPS and EPS foams enabling these thermal insulation materials to continue to meet the increasing demands of global energy efficiency regulations and sustainable building design. “The Polymeric FR has become the ‘next generation industry standard’ flame retardant for use in both XPS and EPS foam insulation applications globally,” said Mark Whiteman, President Dow Global Technologies. “The development and licensing of the Polymeric FR is the result of years of research and development that leveraged Dow’s polymer chemistry, process science, applications know-how, and Environment, Health & Safety expertise. The development is also driven by Dow’s on-going journey to identify and develop more sustainable products and technologies designed to meet customer needs.” Having three international licensees to produce and market the new Polymeric FR, assures global supply security and facilitates industry conversion to the new technology as XPS and EPS manufacturers’ transition to the Polymeric FR. The Polymeric FR licensees have planned large plant constructions enabling commercial volumes to become available over the coming months and years. This enables the global polystyrene foam insulation industry to make a smooth transition to the Polymeric FR. The development of Dow’s Polymeric FR technology comes against the backdrop of an ongoing effort to develop and implement more sustainable products amid pending regulatory restrictions on HBCD initiated by the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical (REACH) substances program and several other national regulations.