Rohm And Haas Offers Greener Material To Manufacturers/Builders

New alternative to use of formaldehyde in fiberglass production; materials advancement offers advantages throughout product lifecycle

By Brad Kenney 

June 29, 2007 -- Specialty materials manufacturer Rohm and Haas recently announced the introduction of a greener alternative to formaldehyde in the production of fiberglass batting. The Aquaset acrylic thermosetting binders represent a sustainable chemistry that is non-combustible, non-hazardous, recyclable and non-flammable -- characteristics that earned it a 1-0-0 safety rating from the Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA). 

Insulation manufacturers using Aquaset binders can dramatically reduce or even eliminate exposure to emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is because Aquaset binders produce only water during the curing process, in contrast to traditional binders that emit compounds such as formaldehyde, methanol, phenol, and ammonia during cure, and continue to emit formaldehyde during shipping, storage, installation and throughout the product's lifecycle in the home.

Additional environmental and production benefits include:

• Elimination of the energy, cost and equipment associated with handling emissions from traditional binders, including the need for thermal oxidizers that generate the greenhouse gases
• Eliminates the need for auxiliary chemicals such as urea, used to control formaldehyde during the manufacturing process
• Enables production lines to run at the same or higher speed
• Reduces the amount of particulates in the work environment
• Reduces energy consumption and increases convenience, since Aquaset resins don't require refrigeration, remain stable at room temperature, and are diluted with just water
• Results in insulation batting with compressibility, moldability and recovery that is comparable to, or better than, insulation produced with formaldehyde resins

Canadian environmental agencies have made bonded fiberglass insulation made with Aquaset resin eligible for Environment Canada's Environmental Choice EcoLogo Program.

For more information visit http://www.rohmhaas.com