Albemarle phases out Deca-BDE, launches styrene-based alternative FRAlbemarle phases out Deca-BDE, launches styrene-based alternative FR

Shortly after announcing that it would begin marketing a line of organic flame retardants (FR) in 2010, specialty chemicals manufacturer Albemarle (Baton Rouge, LA) said it would phase out the production and sale of Deca-BDE FRs, also known as decabrom. That chemical, decabromodiphenyl ether, saw widespread use as a flame retardant but after health and environmental concerns were raised, it underwent hundreds of peer-reviewed and regulatory studies.