Teijin (Tokyo / Japan; www.teijin.com) in late November started mass production of its “FCX-210” phosphorus flame retardant. The material is manufactured at a 1,000 t/y plant operated by Chitec Technology (Taipei / Taiwan; www.chitec.com). The latter signed a license agreement with Teijin in 2013, after the Japanese company debuted FCX-210, and invested close to USD 13m in the production plant.

Used to enhance safety and reduce the environmental impact of automotive and E&E applications, Teijin expects sales of FCX-210 to reach USD 34m by 2018. The material enhances flame retardance in a wide range of resins, including ABS, PS and polyamide, for which conventional phosphorous flame retardants have proved less effective. The group said that since only a small amount of the material is needed, the base polymer retains its properties, adding that the fact that FCX-210 is halogen-free makes it a good alternative for environmentally conscious producers.