Multinational speciality chemicals producer Clariant aims to contribute more sustainability and safety through new innovative solutions to the building and construction industry’s challenges.

As previously reported by Engineering News Clariant’s local clients are receptive to using more sustainable chemicals or solutions and processes that use less chemicals or are more environment-friendly or sustainable, highlights Clariant South Africa head Nicol Meyer.

Economic viability entails that the products and processes that require chemicals must be considered and modelled to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the solution.

“Our laboratories take contributions from our clients and develop customised solutions to meet their product needs. This is crucial to sustain the use of alternative chemicals and solutions. Our research and development is at the core of our responsible chemicals strategy to ensure that we add value to the processes and practices of our clients,” says Meyer.

Application Areas

Wood is becoming more mainstream outside and inside public buildings, and in city commercial and residential premises. Whether used as engineered wood for a new building structure, as façade cladding, green space fencing, or inside a historical theatre, preserving its qualities and appeal poses unique protection and safety challenges.

Two innovative solutions from Clariant get to the heart of the matter. With non-halogenated flame retardant Exolit 855, coatings manufacturers gain the opportunity to create transparent fire- and (in combination with a transparent top coat) water-resistant intumescent coatings for all kinds of wood types, which allow the brilliance of both light and dark woods to shine through.

Exolit 855 can be used in environments with strict flammability requirements, such as public buildings, buying critical evacuation time for occupants in the event of a fire. It is completely clear and easy to formulate and apply.

Secondly, for retaining the appearance and quality of exterior woods over the long-term, the new Hostavin 3315 DISP adds the benefit of sustainable, label-free ultraviolet (UV) A protection to waterborne clearcoats and paint systems. The UV absorber has excellent photo-permanence and also high resistance to migration which helps keep cladding or fencing, for example, in top condition whatever the weather.

When used together with Clariant’s Hostavin 3070 DISP hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS), the benefits of a clearcoat last even longer. Both products carry Clariant’s EcoTain label in recognition of their sustainability benefits.

Sustainability benefits can be felt behind-the-scenes of construction sites too. Clariant’s non-halogenated flame retardant Exolit AP 435 for water-based intumescent coatings for steel, ensures that such coatings maintain easy application even in cold environments and after long storage. Clariant’s well-known ammonium polyphosphate, which carries the Clariant EcoTain label, overcomes a previously known hurdle for long-term applicability of intumescent coatings.

The same applies to ensuring safer and more effective fire protection of fully exposed steel constructions, like airports or cinemas, subject to high-humidity climates.

“The new non-halogenated flame retardant Exolit AP 468 (TP) for intumescent solvent-based coatings used in demanding conditions reduces the possibility of the coating’s fire resistance performance being affected by the formation of water-related blisters.”

“While the impact of every innovation for building- and construction-related applications is not always apparent at the consumer level, providing our coatings industry customers with easy-to-use ingredients that boost efficiency, lower resource use and enable them to introduce more environmentally-compatible, effective and safer products, benefits everyone in the long-term creation of more sustainable cities,” concludes Clariant flame retardants segment manager coatings Achim Hennemann.