Dow Chemical (Midland, Michigan / USA; www.dow.com) has licensed its newly developed high molecular weight brominated polymeric flame retardant (Polymeric FR) technology to Chemtura (Middlebury, Connecticut / USA; www.chemtura.com). As the first licensee of this technology, Chemtura, through its Great Lakes Solutions business, will be able to produce and sell Polymeric FR for use in XPS and EPS foams.

Dow Global Technologies, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical, said it expects Polymeric FR to become the “next generation industry standard” flame retardant for use in XPS and EPS foam insulation applications, replacing hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD).

Polymeric FR is a non-PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic) substance, developed against the backdrop of pending restrictions on HBCD under the EU’s Reach (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals) programme and several other national regulations, Dow explained. In a separate statement, Chemtura said that although it could take several years for the industry to fully convert to the new technology, “Great Lakes Solutions is moving forward now, making a significant capital investment into a full-scale manufacturing facility to support this conversion”.

Dow said it is in discussions with several other interested parties, and further Polymeric FR licensing agreements are expected by the end of the year. The company expects investments in large-scale production by licensees to result in commercial volumes, in line with current HBCD demand, becoming available by 2013-2015. “This should allow the global PS foam insulation industry to make a smooth transition, as national regulations are implemented,” it added.