The SR-T Series of brominated epoxy flame retardants

The SR-T Series is a group of brominated epoxy flame retardants for use with plastics. These flame retardants have Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBA) as the starting material and offer superb compatibility, heat resistance, weathering resistance, and recyclability. Adding SR-T flame-retardants to various engineering plastics makes it simple to achieve highly functional flame resistance.

New flame retardants plant completed at Batangas in the Philippines! Full-scale production launched

October 2001 marked the completion of a new flame retardants plant within the Batangas Factory in the Philippines and the start of test production. In April 2002, full-fledged production began at the new plant with a production capacity of 2,000 tons per year. Together with a domestic production capacity of 3,000 tons per year at the Senboku Factory, that brings the company’s total production capacity to 5,000 tons per year. The newly opened plant represents the initial phase of construction, and additional expansion phases are planned. Plans call for a final production capacity of 6,000 tons per year.

Recently, the circumstances surrounding the use of brominated epoxy flame-retardants have changed: the period of “halogen bashing” has passed, and we have entered a new stage. That is to say, neither legislation (WEEE, RoHS) nor risk assessment in Europe restrict the use of substances; rather, the criterion is to determine the substances and methods of use that minimize risk to people and the environment. As a result, in the 2002 EU Assembly the high level of fire control safety, recyclability, and environmental safety (that flame retardants are not dioxin-emitting substances) of brominated epoxy flame retardants has been scientifically verified, and only two brominated epoxy flame retardants are currently subject to restrictions: Decabromobisphenol and Pentabromobisphenol, substances recognized to be bioaccumulable. (An EU team of specialists is currently conducting risk assessment of TBBA, and an announcement of the findings is planned during 2003).

In order to make a more recycle based society, flame retardants must not only have the basic function of fire prevention safety but also be suitable to various recycling methods so as to prevent the emission of chemical substances in the environment. Offering both fire prevention safety and recyclability, SR-T Series products are the most useful fire retardants currently available.

Sales of SR-T Series flame-retardants have grown in step with the increased demand for IT related products, which use electric and electronic parts that require high quality fire retardants. As these applications are expected to spread across the globe, the company regards the new fire retardant plant within the Batangas Factory as an operation critical to the global strategy.

For more details on these products, please visit the products section of our web site.