Albemarle Starts Up Flame Retardant Plant

Albemarle Corp. (Baton Rouge, LA) has begun commercial start-up of its new Saytex CP-2000 flame retardant plant. The 50,000 mt/y Magnolia, AR, facility uses proprietary continuous process technology to produce tetrabromobisphenol-A without producing coproduct methyl bromide.

"Product quality has been excellent, especially product purity and flowability, and we look forward to demonstrating the 6 sigma quality the plant was designed for," says product manger Greg Bonner. "Qualification samples are now available and sales representatives are contacting their customers."

Saytex CP-2000 is a flame retardant used primarily in ABS plastics and in epoxy oligomers used as additives for styrenic polymers and engineering thermoplastics. It can be used as either a reactive or additive flame retardant, and once reacted, is nonmigratory.

Chemical structure of Saytex CP-2000 tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA).

It is very cost-effective. In the case of ABS, it is also very easy to process. It melt blends into ABS systems, imparting processability, impact strength and moderate UV resistance.

Albemarle was recently designated raw materials supplier of the year by Ricoh Industry France, a Ricoh Group subsidiary. The company supplies Ricoh with a related tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) flame retardant, Saytex RB-100, for use in thermal papers. The award recognized improved environmental performance, reduced waste and cost (through innovative transport), and strong customer communications. Saytex RB-100 is also produced in Magnolia, AR.

By Alan S. Brown