Süd-Chemie acquires Alcan technology for organo-clays in fire retardants for the polymer industry

06-Aug-2003

Alcan aluminium UK Limited, London/UK and Süd-Chemie AG, Munich/Germany, are pleased to announce that Süd-Chemie has acquired the intellectual property and know-how relating to the use of organoclays with inorganic fire retardants from Alcan. Alcan and Süd-Chemie were previously involved in a co-operative development programme to exploit the benefits of this technology. Alcan closed its chemical operations in Burntisland, Scotland late last year. Alcan believes that the technology combining organoclays and inorganic fire retardants such as aluminium hydroxide offers exciting opportunities for a new range of environmentally safe and very effective fire retardants. Süd-Chemie, who offer the Nanofil® range of organoclay products, will continue to support the development of polymer based materials with advanced fire retardant properties.

The advantages of this fire retardant technology are to delay ignition, reduce smoke emissions, eliminate slumping and dripping of the molten polymer by the formation of a strong stable char, i.e. cable and wire manufacturing will become more effective. These benefits are supported by improved processing characteristics such as a lower melt viscosity and higher temperature stability. This application is considered by Süd-Chemie as an important progress step in the development of Nano-composite technology.

The Nanofil® product range available from Süd-Chemie combines the benefits and advantages of inorganic flame retardants and organic modified nanoclays and offers the user a premium performance fire retardant.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/27324/sued-chemie-acquires-alcan-technology-for-organo-clays-in-fire-retardants-for-the-polymer-industry.html