Bitrez, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of specialist polymers and chemicals, has produced and sold its 5000th ton of specialist low free formaldehyde phenolic resins.
And after three years being a market leader in reduced free monomer phenolic products, new formaldehyde free polymers are now added to the portfolio.
Phenolic polymers offer inherent fire, smoke and toxicity (FST) values that surpass the performance of alternate matrix systems. However, their monomer feedstocks are extremely hazardous and resultant free monomers still present in the systems offered can pose a dilemma for organisations wishing to reap the performance attributes whilst complying with increasing regulatory restrictions and difficult exposure controls and abatement.
Curaphen phenolic polymers have been designed for application in the area of specialist coatings and as matrix resins for the design of lightweight composites structures in industries such as aerospace, rail and construction.
Bitrez developed specialist grades within their Curaphen range early in 2015 in order to satisfy specific concerns raised as a result of the reclassification of formaldehyde and reduction of threshold limits under REACh (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals).
Because formaldehyde levels remain in pre-preg after manufacture, a significant amount of pre-preg on the market today contains the carcinogenic chemical. However, by simply switching to a low free from formaldehyde resin from within the Curaphen portfolio, toxic emissions are reduced, and workers health and safety is protected.
Bitrez began producing resins for the pre-preg composites market in 1983 and offer an extensive range of matrix systems. Having originally developed products to satisfy the demanding needs of the heavily regulated packaging and coatings industry, the organisation utilised the specialist technology to upgrade and enhance the resinous systems employed in the composites sector.
Curaphen grades can be used to manufacture composite parts using a variety of techniques including: pultrusion and filament winding; resin infusion; wet lay-up and resin transfer moulding; hot melt and solvated pre-impregnation. Bitrez now supplies resins to several of the world’s leading pre-preg manufacturers.
Dominic Hopwood, Bitrez’s composites resin sales manager, said: “Bitrez is relentlessly focused on the regulatory initiatives that have an impact on our products and those of our customers. We know how important it is to ensure the products we make meet stringent health and safety requirements both for our staff, our customers and their consumers.
“Thanks to REACh, knowing what substances are inside your product and understanding and managing the human and environmental risks associated with their use is now on every manufacturer’s radar. So, when formaldehyde was reclassified as both a carcinogen and mutagen, our R&D team were quick to respond and developed Curaphen. It’s got all the characteristics you’d want from a phenolic polymer resin but with none of the associated health and safety risks from the carcinogenic related toxins.”
