Dow announces new insulation technology
Dow Global Technologies, a subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Co., has announced the invention and development of a new brominated Polymeric Flame Retardant (Polymeric FR) material for use in foam insulation. The company intends to license the technology to other manufacturers.
The Polymeric FR is for use in both extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation applications. Dow has already licensed the technology to Great Lakes Solutions, a business unit of Chemtura Corp., for use in its foam insulation products. Dow is also engaged in advanced licensing discussions with several other interested companies and expects to finalize these agreements by the end of the year.
The development of Dow’s Polymeric FR technology comes against the backdrop of an ongoing search for a substitute for hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), which is facing some regulatory restrictions in Europe, according to the company.
