June 19, 2006 -- To meet growing global demand for flame-retardant wire and cable compounds, Albemarle Corp. announced that it will expand the production capacity for its Martinal fine precipitated aluminum trihydrate (ATH) flame retardants.
The production expansion is to occur at the company's Martinswerk manufacturing site, which is based in Bergheim, Germany. The projected production capacity enlargement is set at 20,000 metric tons. and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
The company contends that its Martinal fine precipitated ATH is preferred as a filler and flame retardant in wire and cable and various other plastics and rubber applications processed below 200 degrees C because of the additive's environmental friendliness, non-corrosiveness, recyclability, and excellent smoke-suppressant properties.
"This expansion will help preserve a sustainable source of these popular and highly effective mineral flame retardant fillers for the global wire and cable marketplace," comments Wolfgang Hardtke, Albemarle's global business manager for wire and cable flame retardants.
Albemarle and joint venture partner RHI Group previously announced that the companies' Magnifin joint venture (Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH and Co KG) had completed a similar capacity expansion for the Magnifin flame retardants at a manufacturing site in Breitenau, Austria.
The finely crystallized, magnesium dihydroxide Magnifin mineral flame retardants are used for halogen- free applications where processing temperatures exceed 200 degrees C.
Learn more about the Martinal and Magnifin mineral flame retardants at www.martinswerk.com/plastics_e.aspx.
