Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Israel: Chemicals company ICL has launched VeriQuel R100, a reactive phosphorous flame retardant for rigid polyurethane (PU) insulation. VeriQuel R100 chemically bonds with the polymer matrix in PU insulation. ICL invested US$2m in the development of VeriQuel R100. Four US-based roofing producers also launched products featuring VeriQuel R100, with six more reportedly ‘in development’ in the US and Europe.

US: Israel Chemicals Limited (ICL) is preparing a new flame retardant for use in rigid polyurethane foams. Executives at ICL made the announcement at the Polyurethanes Technical Conference in New Orleans, according to ICIS. VeriQuel R100 is a non-halogenated reactive flame retardant intended to replace tris (chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP) in case of any changes to existing government regulations. The new product will be targeted at building and construction applications.

Netherlands/Israel: ICL has completed ramping up its compaction capabilities and is now producing a range of its sustainable polymeric flame retardant at full capacity, to 12,000Mt/yr, at its Industrial Products (IP) plants in Israel and the Netherlands. The flame retardant, which is marketed by ICL IP under the brand name FR-122P, is an alternative for customers transitioning from hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)-based flame retardants currently used by the building industry in extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation products.

FR-122P is now available from both plants in three grades of products: powder material, EPS compacted grade and XPS compacted grade using ICL IP’s in-house compaction technology. FR-122P is manufactured by ICL IP using technology licensed from Dow Global Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.

US: Albemarle Corporation, a flame retardant manufacturer, and ICL, a specialty chemical company, have announced that they have entered into a long-term agreement for the supply of a polymeric flame retardant. The product is manufactured at ICL's facilities in the Netherlands and in Israel using technology licensed from Dow Global Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.

This next generation flame retardant, which is marketed by Albemarle under the brand name GreenCrest and by ICL under the brand name FR122P, is a sustainable alternative for customers transitioning from hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)-based flame retardants currently used by the building industry in extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation products. Albemarle will supply ICL with bromine for the production of GreenCrest, associated with the agreement. The agreement is subject to certain conditions precedent, including approval of Israel's Antitrust Authority.

Albemarle and ICL will continue to provide independent marketing, sales and technical service to their respective customers in Europe and around the world to ensure a transition as EPS and XPS producers continue to shift from HBCD to the polymeric flame retardants.