Hexion Inc., a global leader in specialty chemicals, announced a strategic collaboration with Clariant, an intumescent additive supplier, to develop cutting-edge intumescent coatings. This innovative partnership brings together Hexion's expertise in VeoVa vinyl ester-based binders with Clariant's industry-leading intumescent additives, aiming to optimize fire protection systems in critical applications.

Intumescent coatings play a pivotal role in safeguarding lives and property during fire incidents by forming an insulating foam layer upon exposure to heat. This layer helps to maintain the structural integrity of buildings, providing occupants with crucial time to evacuate safely.

"Our collaboration with Clariant signifies a significant milestone in advancing fire protection technology," commented Jeroen Jansema, vice president and general manager of Versatics Acid and Derivatives business at Hexion. "By leveraging our VeoVa monomers and Clariant’s intumescent additives, we are optimizing vinyl-acetate based binders to enhance char formation and fire resistance, ensuring superior performance in critical situations."

Key highlights of the collaboration include:

• Enhanced Fire Performance: VeoVa vinyl ester-based binders offer superior fire performance compared to vinyl acetate/ethylene and acrylic-based systems. With higher VeoVa vinyl ester content, the efficacy of fire protection is significantly improved, doubling the protection duration over VeoVa vinyl ester -free alternatives.
• Innovative Thin Coating Applications: Hexion's innovative approach allows for thinner coating applications without compromising efficacy, addressing a critical market need for streamlined fire protection solutions.
• VeoVa Vinyl Ester – rich Blending Resin: The development of a VeoVa vinyl ester -rich blending resin concept enables systems without VeoVa vinyl ester to improve fire resistance performance and hydrophobicity, providing versatility and efficiency in fire protection solutions.

"Our joint efforts with Clariant have yielded remarkable results, demonstrating the unparalleled combination of high-performance, aesthetics, and ease of application in our technology," added Jeroen Jansema. "We are honored to collaborate with Hexion to advance the frontier of fire protection coatings," remarked Martin John, Global Vice President Segment Coatings & Adhesives at Clariant. "This partnership underscores our shared commitment to innovation and safety, empowering us to deliver groundbreaking solutions with our Exolit® AP products to our customers. Our state-of-the-art fire testing facilities allow us to rigorously evaluate the fire safety performance of materials and formulations containing our Exolit flame retardants." As Hexion and Clariant continue to push the boundaries of fire protection technology, they reaffirm their dedication to enhancing safety and resilience in the built environment.