Teijin Limited (Tokyo) has kicked off mass production of its new FCX-210 phosphorus-based flame retardant began at a 1000-tonnes/year plant operated by Taiwanese additives manufacturer chemical manufacturer Chitec Technology (Taipei).
Teijin is developing FCX-210 applications for enhanced safety and reduced environmental impact in the automotive and electronics fields. Sales are expected to reach JPY4 billion ($33.9 million) by 2018.
After developing FCX-210 in 2013, Teijin signed a manufacturing license agreement with Chitec Technology, which subsequently invested in and constructed a mass-production facility at a cost of NT$400 million ($12.9 milliopn)
FCX-210 is a new type of phosphorus flame retardant incorporating Teijin's proprietary molecular design technology. It reportedly enhances flame retardance in a broad range of resins, including acryonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polystyrene and polyamides in which conventional phosphorus flame retardants are less effective. Only a small amount of FCX-210 needs to be added, helping to maintain the original properties of base resins according to Teijin. It is also halogen-free, an increasing demand among environmentally conscious manufacturers.
Chitec's new 200,000-sq.-ft facility in Changhwa County, Taiwan, includes two warehouses, a production plant and a waste water pre-treatment facility. It was officially opened on November 25 by Dr. Chris Chiu, Chitec's CEO, and Yasumichi Takesue, Group Corporate Officer of Teijin., among other dignitaries.
Established in 1998, Chitec's core product lines include photoinitiators, light stabilizers, UV absorbers, and antioxidants, all manufactured in Chitec's Hsinchu Plant. As for the future roadmap of the new Changhwa plant, in addition to FCX-210 produced at the Phase I facility, Chitec will commence construction of the Phase II facility by the end of this year. Products to be manufactured by the Phase II plant include Chitec's phosphorous antioxidant (annual capacity: 1000 tonnes) and non-halogenated flame retardant (annual capacity: 1,00 tonnes).