Dec 6 2007
Resin makers who supply the electronic enclosures market will soon be able to get one of the world's best performing phosphorus flame retardants from a new production source.
To more efficiently meet global demand for its phosphorus-based NcendX(R) P-30 flame retardant, Albemarle Corporation will start up a new production unit in Nanjing, China, in the second quarter of 2008.
"This new plant will improve Albemarle's flexibility to supply our Asian customers as well as the rest of our global customer base for this important and growing flame retardant," said Luc Van Muylem, vice president of polymer additives.
The initial capacity of the new flame retardant plant will be 4,000 metric tons per year with options to expand at a later date.
Albemarle's existing NcendX P-30 flame retardant unit in Orangeburg, S.C. will be converted to other uses following startup of the Nanjing plant.
"We look forward to serving our global customer base from the new facility in Nanjing, which will provide the same, high-quality product as our Orangeburg facility does today," said Troy DeSoto, global business manager for NcendX P-30 flame retardant.
NcendX P-30 bisphenol A diphosphate-type (BPADP) flame retardant is an outstanding performer in resin blends used in electronic enclosure plastics such as PC/ABS and PPE/HIPS. NcendX P-30, a liquid flame retardant, is preferred over other phosphorus flame retardants because it improves resin melt flow and exhibits outstanding thermal stability, excellent hydrolytic stability, low migration and low volatility during processing and end use.