Dow develops technology to “significantly enhance” flexible PUR foam performance
Dow has developed new technology that enables the production of halogen-free, high-resilience foam production using a single polyol.
The new ‘GUARD’ technology is designed to provide manufacturers of flexible polyurethane foams for furniture, bedding and seating applications with a solution to both increase comfort levels and ease regulatory compliance, all while reducing raw material components and simplifying foam processing and storage.
“The new GUARD technology is the foundation for novel polymer polyols, which exhibit excellent load-bearing and inherent flame retardant properties in addition to having ultra-low emission characteristics,” explained Ricco Borella, Marketing Manager at Dow Polyurethanes.
“Combining these features in a single product enables manufacturers to significantly enhance foam performance, delivering benefits in all aspects of production and use.”
Dow says the performance and versatility of its new ‘VORAGUARD’ products, which are based on GUARD technology, means that a single polymer polyol can be used to produce the entire product range without the addition of other flame retardant polyols or high solids co-polymer polyols.
Hence, it says the innovation delivers “unprecedented formulation flexibility” to meet the industry’s specific requirements for a wide range of end uses in high resilience foam production, whilst simplifying the product mix with just one polyol that provides the functionality of what used to require several raw materials.
Addressing the most stringent regulatory requirements, Dow says foams produced with the new VORAGUARD products provide excellent fire retardant properties, meaning that the polyol itself is designed to help extinguish the flame.
This, combined with ultra-low emissions, enables the production of halogen-free, combustion modified, high-resilience foam (CMHR), meeting severe flammability requirements such as the British Crib 5 standard, as well as stringent emission requirements such as those set by LGA in Germany with just one foam. “Subsequently, consumers across Europe benefit from safer, cleaner, and more comfortable mattresses and furnishings,” Dow said.