Alporit AG from Boswil in the canton of Aargau is planning to launch insulating panels made from halogen-free Polytrol rigid foam on the market at some point next year. The halogen bromine, which is usually used as an anti-burn additive, has meanwhile been prohibited by several sustainability labels for environmental reasons, according to a press release issued by the Hightech Zentrum Aargau (HTZ). The center was involved in the development of the insulating panels together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT), which is based in Pfinztal on the outskirts of Karlsruhe in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The manufacturing firm Alporit AG, which forms part of the Zug-based swisspor Group, opted to use a phosphorus-based material in its innovative insulating panels rather than bromine.
“The benefits from the cooperation between the ICT and HTZ are substantial for us”, comments Volker Brombacher, Head of R&D at swisspor AG, in the press release. The feasibility study, which was carried out with the help of the research partners, provides swisspor with a unique selling point, as there are currently no comparable products available internationally, Brombacher explains further. After a successful feasibility study, application-related product tests were carried out and the production of the innovative insulating material was tested at a large-scale facility.
The first product segments are set to be launched in 2024. However, in comparison with conventional insulating materials, the production costs for the halogen-free insulating material will be higher by a low double-digit percentage value, HTZ writes. Alporit AG is banking on the increased sustainability outweighing the higher production costs.
