Celebrating 50 years of flame retardants: Exolit™ AP leads the way to a more sustainable future

In 2025, Clariant is proud to celebrate a significant milestone: 50 years of Exolit AP flame retardants protecting lives and property around the world. Based on advanced ammonium polyphosphate (APP) technology, these pioneering flame retardants have become the industry benchmark in a wide range of applications, including intumescent coatings, fire barrier sealing systems, thermoset composites for e-mobility battery housings and coatings, rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation foams and more. As Clariant marks this golden anniversary, it is not just celebrating past achievements but actively shaping the future of fire protection.

A legacy of innovation:

Since producing the first batch of Exolit AP at the Knapsack site in Germany in 1975, the Exolit AP product line has pioneered flame retardant technology. What began as a groundbreaking solution has evolved into a comprehensive portfolio that sets industry standards for performance and reliability. The recent launch of a melamine-free Exolit AP grade demonstrates how this spirit of innovation continues today.

Innovation for today and tomorrow:

The successful launch of melamine-free Exolit AP marks a significant step forward in more sustainable flame retardant technology. This SVHC-free solution, without the addition of melamine, demonstrates Clariant’s commitment to meeting stringent safety and sustainability demands while maintaining superior fire resistance across multiple Passive Fire Protection (PFP) solutions such as fire stop systems and intumescent coatings, as well as flame-retardant applications like insulation panels. This development responds to the rising demand from health- and sustainability-conscious consumers and brands, including those who are actively seeking safer alternatives to products containing substances of concern. Similar to the growing adoption of PFAS-free alternatives across various markets, there is a clear shift in purchasing behavior towards safer solutions in PFP.

Exolit AP 435: same trusted performance, now even better for tomorrow:

Building on this momentum, Clariant is excited to preview the next evolution in the journey towards melamine-free fire protection: an enhanced version of the trusted Exolit AP 435.

This evolution maintains the exceptional performance characteristics in water-based formulations that have made Exolit AP 435 the industry benchmark for shelf-life stability, while incorporating forward-thinking improvements to meet future regulatory requirements, all without compromising on fire protection performance.

The power of partnership:

Clariant’s success story is built on strong partnerships with customers, many spanning generations. In the continued development of next-generation solutions, Clariant is engaging with forward-thinking companies interested in shaping the future of sustainable flame retardants. This collaborative approach ensures that innovations align perfectly with market needs while maintaining high-performance standards.

To show that significant innovations are best achieved through partnership, Clariant is actively seeking development partners who share the vision for more sustainable fire protection and want to be at the forefront of industry innovation. This collaborative approach allows helps to refine solutions while ensuring they meet real-world performance demands.

Milestones that matter:

Clariant’s 50-year journey has been marked by significant breakthroughs:

1975: Introducing Exolit AP 422 flame retardant

1983: Launching Exolit AP 462, encapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (APP)

1990s: Development of specialized solutions for intumescent coatings

2000s: Strategic expansion of intumescent coatings market

2015: Launching Exolit AP 435, setting new standards in viscosity control

2024: Introduction of the very first melamine-free Exolit AP

2025: Continuing development of next-generation solutions

"Through changing times and evolving industry needs, Exolit AP has remained at the forefront of innovation. From its origins in Hoechst AG to becoming a cornerstone of Clariant's portfolio in 1997, each decade has brought new challenges and achievements. The introduction of Exolit AP 462 in 1983 marked our first major breakthrough in encapsulated ammonium polyphosphate technology, setting new industry standards for performance and reliability," said Achim Hennemann, Head of Market Segment Passive Fire Protection.

Today, this legacy of innovation continues. “The launch of melamine-free Exolit AP represents more than just a new product,” explained Adrian Beard, Global Industry Market Manager Flame Retardants. “It embodies our commitment to combining five decades of expertise with tomorrow's sustainability demands.

The road ahead:

As Clariant looks to the next 50 years, its commitment to innovation remains stronger than ever. The success of the very first melamine-free Exolit AP grade and the evolution of Exolit AP 435 demonstrate how the company can meet evolving industry needs while maintaining the high-performance standards that have defined Clariant’s products for half a century.

Stefan Brejc, Global Vice President Segment Coatings & Adhesives proudly stated, “The same pioneering spirit that drove our first innovations in 1975 still drives us today. As we celebrate this golden anniversary, we're not just looking back at 50 years of achievement, we're building on this foundation to create the next generation of more sustainable flame retardants.”

source:Clariant

Power Adhesives to Showcase Innovative Technology at UK Commercial Vehicle Show

Power Adhesives will be at The Commercial Vehicle Show, the UK’s premier event for road freight, transport, distribution, and logistics, taking place from 29 April to 1 May at the NEC Birmingham.

Attendees will have the opportunity to see live demonstrations of the Power Adhesives industry-leading Tecbond spray systems and cordless hot melt applicators, designed to deliver faster, safer, and more cost-effective solutions for commercial vehicle installation, insulation, and fit-out applications.

Visitors to the Power Adhesives stand at 5G112 will see live demonstrations of the Tec 7300 spray system, designed for fast and even adhesive application across large areas, and the Tec 3500 corded and Tec 3508 cordless applicators, providing unmatched flexibility and ease of use in vehicle modification environments.

Ian Lancey, Sales & Marketing Director at Power Adhesives, said: “We are delighted to be attending the UK Commercial Vehicle Show. Our Tecbond spray technology is transforming the way commercial vehicle manufacturers approach bonding. By delivering fast, even coverage across large surfaces, it’s perfect for applications like insulation panels, interior linings, and heat-sensitive substrates.

“Unlike traditional solvent-based adhesives or time-consuming roller applications, Tecbond spray adhesives offer a safer, non-toxic, VOC- and solvent-free alternative that dramatically speeds up production while improving overall efficiency. The high-speed set and strong initial tack not only streamline processes but also give manufacturers the confidence to scale up production and take on more projects without compromising quality.”

Power Adhesives’ experts will be demonstrating a range of Tecbond adhesives engineered for demanding applications, including Tecbond 440 and 425 for fast, secure bonding in vehicle interiors, Tecbond 267W for plastics bonding with Tec 806 and Tec 808 applicators, and Tecbond 248 for difficult-to-bond plastics, suitable for use with Tec 806, Tec 808, or Tec 830 temperature-adjustable applicator.

Explore the Power Adhesives range of hot melt solutions at Stand 5G112 at The Commercial Vehicle Show 2025 and discover how Tecbond spray and cordless technologies can revolutionise your production processes, reduce costs, and contribute to a more sustainability focused future in commercial vehicle manufacturing.

source: Power Adhesives

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Researchers recycle wind turbine blade materials to make improved plastics

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Researchers recycle wind turbine blade materials to make improved plastics

A new method to recycle wind turbine blades without using harsh chemicals resulted in the recovery of high-strength glass fibers and resins that allowed Washington State University researchers to re-purpose the materials to create stronger plastics.

The innovation provides a simple and environmentally friendly way to recycle wind turbine blades to create useful products.

Reporting in the journal, Resource, Conservation, and Recycling, the team of researchers cut the lightweight material that is commonly used in wind turbine blades, called glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), into approximately two inch-sized blocks. They then soaked the flakes in a bath of low-toxicity organic salt in pressurized, superheated water for about two hours to break down the material. They then re-purposed its components to make stronger plastics.

"It works very well, especially considering the mild conditions that we applied," said Cheng Hao, a former graduate student in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and co-first author on the paper. "The solvent is a green solvent, and also the temperature is acceptable for this purpose."

The GFRP material has traditionally been very difficult to recycle. While thermoplastics, the type of plastic used in milk bottles, can be melted and easily re-used, the glass-fiber composites are typically made with thermosets. These types of composites are cured and can't easily be undone and returned to their original materials. The first generation of modern wind turbines made of composites from the 1990s are now reaching the end of their lifetimes, creating a significant challenge for disposal. The glass fiber-reinforced material makes up about two-thirds of a wind turbine blade's total weight. Furthermore, when the blades are made, about 15% of the material is also wasted in manufacturing.

"As wind energy grows, recycling and reusing wind turbine waste is becoming increasingly urgent," said Jinwen Zhang, corresponding author and a professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. "This recycling method is scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, providing a sustainable solution for reusing large quantities of glass fiber reinforced waste."

In their work, the researchers soaked the blade material in a mild solution of zinc acetate, which is used in medicines, such as in throat lozenges and food additives. The mild solution allowed the researchers to recover glass fibers and resins in good condition which they then added directly to thermoplastics to produce strong composite materials with up to 70% of the recycled glass fiber materials. Moreover, the researchers were able to recover and reuse most of the catalyzing zinc acetate solution through simple filtration.

"The ease of the catalyst recovery enhances the overall sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the method," said Zhang, who conducts research in the Composite Materials and Engineering Center.

When the researchers added the recycled material to nylon plastic and tested it, they found that the additional fibers made the nylon more than three times stronger and more than eight times stiffer. They also found that the recycled GFRP material can reinforce other plastics, such as polypropylene and the type of plastics used in milk jugs and shampoo bottles.

"For this work, we didn't need to fully break down all the bonds and push the reaction to completion," said Baoming Zhao, co-first author and research assistant professor in the Composite Materials and Engineering Center, "As long as we can break the cross-linked network into smaller pieces, and they are melt processable, we can compound that with nylon and get a new composite. We are not separating the resin from the fiber -- we just blend everything with nylon and get a new composite.

The researchers are continuing studies to make the chemical conditions even easier for recycling by reducing the requirements for pressurization. Working with WSU's Office of Commercialization they also hope to develop blade materials that are fully recyclable in the first place.

The work was funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

source: Washington State University/sciencedaily.com

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : New electronic “skin” could enable lightweight night-vision glasses

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

New electronic “skin” could enable lightweight night-vision glasses

MIT engineers have developed a technique to grow and peel ultrathin “skins” of electronic material. The method could pave the way for new classes of electronic devices, such as ultrathin wearable sensors, flexible transistors and computing elements, and highly sensitive and compact imaging devices. 

As a demonstration, the team fabricated a thin membrane of pyroelectric material — a class of heat-sensing material that produces an electric current in response to changes in temperature. The thinner the pyroelectric material, the better it is at sensing subtle thermal variations.

With their new method, the team fabricated the thinnest pyroelectric membrane yet, measuring 10 nanometers thick, and demonstrated that the film is highly sensitive to heat and radiation across the far-infrared spectrum.

The newly developed film could enable lighter, more portable, and highly accurate far-infrared (IR) sensing devices, with potential applications for night-vision eyewear and autonomous driving in foggy conditions. Current state-of-the-art far-IR sensors require bulky cooling elements. In contrast, the new pyroelectric thin film requires no cooling and is sensitive to much smaller changes in temperature. The researchers are exploring ways to incorporate the film into lighter, higher-precision night-vision glasses.

“This film considerably reduces weight and cost, making it lightweight, portable, and easier to integrate,” Xinyuan Zhang, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE). “For example, it could be directly worn on glasses.”

The heat-sensing film could also have applications in environmental and biological sensing, as well as imaging of astrophysical phenomena that emit far-infrared radiation.

What’s more, the new lift-off technique is generalizable beyond pyroelectric materials. The researchers plan to apply the method to make other ultrathin, high-performance semiconducting films.

Their results are reported today in a paper appearing in the journal Nature. The study’s MIT co-authors are first author Xinyuan Zhang, Sangho Lee, Min-Kyu Song, Haihui Lan, Jun Min Suh, Jung-El Ryu, Yanjie Shao, Xudong Zheng, Ne Myo Han, and Jeehwan Kim, associate professor of mechanical engineering and of materials science and engineering, along with researchers at the University Wisconsin at Madison led by Professor Chang-Beom Eom and authors from multiple other institutions.

Chemical peel

Kim’s group at MIT is finding new ways to make smaller, thinner, and more flexible electronics. They envision that such ultrathin computing “skins” can be incorporated into everything from smart contact lenses and wearable sensing fabrics to stretchy solar cells and bendable displays. To realize such devices, Kim and his colleagues have been experimenting with methods to grow, peel, and stack semiconducting elements, to fabricate ultrathin, multifunctional electronic thin-film membranes.

One method that Kim has pioneered is “remote epitaxy” — a technique where semiconducting materials are grown on a single-crystalline substrate, with an ultrathin layer of graphene in between. The substrate’s crystal structure serves as a scaffold along which the new material can grow. The graphene acts as a nonstick layer, similar to Teflon, making it easy for researchers to peel off the new film and transfer it onto flexible and stacked electronic devices. After peeling off the new film, the underlying substrate can be reused to make additional thin films.

Kim has applied remote epitaxy to fabricate thin films with various characteristics. In trying different combinations of semiconducting elements, the researchers happened to notice that a certain pyroelectric material, called PMN-PT, did not require an intermediate layer assist in order to separate from its substrate. Just by growing PMN-PT directly on a single-crystalline substrate, the researchers could then remove the grown film, with no rips or tears to its delicate lattice.

“It worked surprisingly well,” Zhang says. “We found the peeled film is atomically smooth.”

Lattice lift-off

In their new study, the MIT and UW Madison researchers took a closer look at the process and discovered that the key to the material’s easy-peel property was lead. As part of its chemical structure, the team, along with colleagues at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, discovered that the pyroelectric film contains an orderly arrangement of lead atoms that have a large “electron affinity,” meaning that lead attracts electrons and prevents the charge carriers from traveling and connecting to another materials such as an underlying substrate. The lead acts as tiny nonstick units, allowing the material as a whole to peel away, perfectly intact.

The team ran with the realization and fabricated multiple ultrathin films of PMN-PT, each about 10 nanometers thin. They peeled off pyroelectric films and transfered them onto a small chip to form an array of 100 ultrathin heat-sensing pixels, each about 60 square microns (about .006 square centimeters). They exposed the films to ever-slighter changes in temperature and found the pixels were highly sensitive to small changes across the far-infrared spectrum.

The sensitivity of the pyroelectric array is comparable to that of state-of-the-art night-vision devices. These devices are currently based on photodetector materials, in which a change in temperature induces the material’s electrons to jump in energy and briefly cross an energy “band gap,” before settling back into their ground state. This electron jump serves as an electrical signal of the temperature change. However, this signal can be affected by noise in the environment, and to prevent such effects, photodetectors have to also include cooling devices that bring the instruments down to liquid nitrogen temperatures.

Current night-vision goggles and scopes are heavy and bulky. With the group’s new pyroelectric-based approach, NVDs could have the same sensitivity without the cooling weight.

The researchers also found that the films were sensitive beyond the range of current night-vision devices and could respond to wavelengths across the entire infrared spectrum. This suggests that the films could be incorporated into small, lightweight, and portable devices for various applications that require different infrared regions. For instance, when integrated into autonomous vehicle platforms, the films could enable cars to “see” pedestrians and vehicles in complete darkness or in foggy and rainy conditions. 

The film could also be used in gas sensors for real-time and on-site environmental monitoring, helping detect pollutants. In electronics, they could monitor heat changes in semiconductor chips to catch early signs of malfunctioning elements.

The team says the new lift-off method can be generalized to materials that may not themselves contain lead. In those cases, the researchers suspect that they can infuse Teflon-like lead atoms into the underlying substrate to induce a similar peel-off effect. For now, the team is actively working toward incorporating the pyroelectric films into a functional night-vision system.

“We envision that our ultrathin films could be made into high-performance night-vision goggles, considering its broad-spectrum infrared sensitivity at room-temperature, which allows for a lightweight design without a cooling system,” Zhang says. “To turn this into a night-vision system, a functional device array should be integrated with readout circuitry. Furthermore, testing in varied environmental conditions is essential for practical applications.

This work was supported by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

source: MIT News

Sinopec and Syensqo sign strategic partnership framework agreement

The agreement marks a significant milestone in the partnership between Sinopec and Syensqo, which aims to explore business development opportunities and application development in various sectors, including commercial aerospace, transportation, energy, electronics and industrial fields to empower innovation for sustainable solutions.

The collaboration will focus on #carbonfibre and #composites, specialty polymers and material solutions for commercial aerospace, transportation, and #energy sectors and will explore opportunities in supply chain management and sustainability, including the use of circular chemicals and reducing carbon footprint. The 2 companies will also explore business cooperation in emerging markets such as South America and Asia.

Dr. Zhao Dong, vice chairman & president of Sinopec, stated, “#Sinopec has always adhered to the philosophy of open cooperation. This collaboration with #Syensqo is a crucial step to deepen synergy in the global energy and chemical industry chain. We will lead with technological innovation, advance green and low-carbon technologies, and jointly explore high-quality development pathways to deliver cleaner and more efficient energy, chemical product, and advanced material solutions for global customers.

Dr. Ilham Kadri, CEO of Syensqo, stated, “we have had many exchanges with Sinopec in Beijing, Shanghai and Brussels. The strategic partnership aligns with Syensqo’s mission to pursue breakthroughs that advance humanity. Together, we will explore innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of our industries while lowering carbon footprint.

Cover photo: Syensqo

source:Sinopec/Jec Composites

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Innovative recycling method for carbon fibre

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Fraunhofer EMI: Innovative recycling method for carbon fibre

Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI have developed a technology that makes it possible to reclaim continuous carbon fibres from composite materials without diminishing material quality. High-power lasers are used for local degradation of the matrix of multi-layered fibre-reinforced plastics at high temperatures. This method offers not only ecological benefits but also considerable economic potential.

Carbon fibre composites are exceptionally strong and lightweight, making them preferred materials in many industries. But the disposal and recycling of these high-performance materials pose significant challenges. The research team at Fraunhofer EMI has now developed a process in which fibres from used composites are efficiently prepared for reuse  without adversely affecting their mechanical properties. Current recycling methods for fibre-reinforced plastic involve a shredding step, which shortens the fibres and leads to a downcycling.

The researchers at Fraunhofer EMI use a high-power laser for controlled reclamation of the fibre reinforcement from thermosetting composites. This method is especially relevant for pressurized hydrogen tanks, where a continuous carbon fibre roving is wound around a plastic liner to make the tank able to withstand high internal service pressures of up to 700 bar.

The advantage of this innovative recycling method lies in the ability to remove the thermosetting matrix surrounding the carbon fibres via a local pyrolysis, while leaving the fibres themselves nearly undamaged. What makes this process special is that we perform the pyrolysis of the matrix and the unwinding of the fibre roving simultaneously, at a reasonable speed without damaging the carbon fibres.

The challenge lies in defining the optimum process window, as the matrix thermal degradation occurs at temperatures of 300 to 600 degrees Cel, while the fibres might start getting damaged when the temperature reaches about 600 degrees Celsius. We found a very good compromise between the process efficiency and the quality of the recycled material. Our results show that the continuous fibres reclaimed in this way have the same excellent performance properties as new fibres.

The innovative method offers not only ecological benefits but also considerable economic potential for recycling companies. Because heat is applied locally and the fibre roving is continuously reclaimed at the same time, there is no need for the long pyrolysis times and high process costs typically required when working with the thick-walled hydrogen tanks. Furthermore, the laser-assisted reclamation process requires only about one-fifth of the amount of energy required to produce new fibres. Those are key advantages in the current context of rising energy costs and increasing environmental requirements.

source: Fraunhofer EMI /JEC Composites

New Study Reveals Polymers with Flawed Fillers Boost Heat Transfer in Plastics

In the quest to design the next generation of materials for modern devices – ones that are lightweight, flexible and excellent at dissipating heat– a team of researchers led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst made a discovery: imperfection has its upsides. 

This research, published in Science Advances, experimentally and theoretically found that polymers (commonly referred to as plastics) made with thermally #conductivefillers containing defects performed 160% better than those with perfect fillers. This counterintuitive finding challenges long-held assumptions that defects compromise material performance.

The study was led by #UMassAmherst with collaborators from #MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology, #NorthCarolinaStateUniversity, #StanfordUniversity, #OakRidgeNationalLaboratory, #ArgonneNationalLaboratoryandRiceUniversity.

Polymers have revolutionized modern devices with their unmatched lightness, electrical insulation, flexibility and ease of processing qualities metals & ceramics simply can’t rival. Polymers are embedded in every corner of our tech landscape, from high-speed microchips and LEDs to smartphones and soft robotics. However, common polymers are thermal insulators with low thermal conductivity, which can lead to overheating issues. Their inherent insulating properties trap heat, spawning dangerous hot spots that sap performance and accelerate wear, heightening the risk of catastrophic failures and even fires.

For years, scientists have attempted to enhance the thermal conductivity of polymers by incorporating highly thermally conductive fillers such as metals, ceramics or carbon-based materials. The logic is straightforward: blending in thermally conductive fillers should improve overall performance. 

However, in practice, it is not this simple. Consider a polymer blended with diamonds.

Given a diamond’s exceptional thermal conductivity of about 2,000 watts per meter per kelvin (W m-1 K-1), a polymer that is composed of 40% diamond filler might theoretically achieve conductivity of around 800 W m-1 K-1. Yet, practical results have fallen short due to challenges like filler clumping, defects, high contact resistance between polymers and fillers,& low thermal conductivity of polymer matrices, which undermine heat transfer. 

Understanding thermal transport mechanisms in polymeric materials has been a long-standing challenge, partly due to the complicated polymer structures, ubiquitous defects & disorders.

For their study, aimed at laying the foundation for understanding thermal transport in #polymericmaterials and controlling heat transfer across heterogeneous interfaces, the team created two polymer composites of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)- one incorporating perfect graphite fillers and the other using defective graphite oxide fillers, each at a low 5% volume fraction.

source: University of Massachusetts Amherst