Clariant has finalized its CHF 100 million investment in its Daya Bay facility in China, significantly boosting production capacity for sustainable flame retardants.
Specialty chemical company Clariant announced the completion of its substantial CHF 100 million investment at its state-of-the-art Daya Bay facility in China. The second production line is set to be fully operational in November, a move designed to strengthen the company’s ability to meet escalating global demand for its innovative and sustainable fire safety solutions, particularly across Asia and the high-growth e-mobility segment.
"Our continued investment in the Daya Bay facility underscores our commitment to supporting the significant growth of engineering plastics applications in e-mobility and electrical & electronic segments," said Angela Cackovich, Business President Adsorbents & Additives and EMEA and Member of the Executive Steering Committee. "With this world-class manufacturing plant, we strengthen our leading position in innovative and more sustainable fire safety solutions while improving our ability to serve customers across the Asia Pacific region with reduced delivery times and tailored solutions."
Clariant is simultaneously expanding its halogen-free Exolit™ OP flame retardant portfolio with two new high-performance solutions for polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) applications: Exolit OP 1242 (TP) and Exolit OP 1266 (TP).
The innovations are specifically engineered to address the stringent requirements of the e-mobility industry, especially as vehicles transition to higher voltage systems of 800 V and above.
• Exolit OP 1242 (TP) delivers exceptional hydrolysis stability, which is crucial for materials operating in hot and humid environments, protecting components from degradation.
• Exolit OP 1266 (TP) provides a stable comparative tracking index (CTI) of 600 V even after extended storage, ensuring superior long-term electrical insulation properties under demanding conditions.
Both products achieve the critical UL 94 V-0 classification down to a sample thickness of just 0.4 mm at standard dosing levels of 15-20%, confirming their suitability for thin-walled components in electric vehicle battery packs and intricate electronic housings.
A significant feature of the new Exolit OP products is their role as a stable alternative to traditional flame retardant systems based on antimony trioxide (ATO). The ATO market has recently experienced dramatic price increases and supply chain volatility.
Furthering its commitment to sustainability and removing substances of very high concern (SVHC) from its portfolio, Clariant has also introduced Exolit AP 422 A. This innovative product delivers excellent fire protection for polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation panels and is a melamine-free, SVHC-free solution.
In polyurethane foam applications, the versatile, halogen-free ammonium polyphosphate effectively replaces conventional flame retardants like TCPP (tris(chloropropyl) phosphate) and TEP (triethyl phosphate). It offers robust flame retardancy without unwanted plasticizing effects and features improved powder flowability for more efficient production handling.
