Clariant’s NMP-free decision pays off
According to specialty chemicals company Clariant, its decision back in 2005 to offer N-Methylpyrrolidone-free (NMP-free) finishing products to the leather industry has prepared customers for new (EU) legislation that takes effect in December.
Clariant was one of the first companies to start developing products that would replace NMP. The solvent, which was previously valued for its beneficial effects on levelling and jet blackness, was reclassified by the State of California in June 2001 following toxicology reports and added to the list of substances known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.
When NMP is used in leather finishing, almost 90% remains in the leather after drying. However, the solvent is slowly released over a long period of time, exposing the end-user to its potentially harmful effects.
In California, even products containing minimal amounts of NMP have to be labelled. For example, a vehicle instruction manual must include a warning label if a leather containing NMP has been used for the car seats.
At the end of the transitional period in December 2010, NMP will be reclassified within the EU. Mixtures containing 5% or more NMP must be labelled as toxic. Even products containing 0.1%f NMP must be listed in the safety data sheet. So moew and more leather processing companies will be asking for NMP-free leathers.
“Clariant realised at an early stage that the use and acceptance of NMP would come to an end and that it would be a major challenge to replace it,” comments Ralph-Günther Blach, head of marketing and application development of the leather business unit at Clariant.
“So in 2001, Clariant started a project for the replacement of NMP in all leather finishing products,” he continues. “A lot of different solutions were necessary to surmount the production and application problems for NMP-free products, but since 2005 our standard finishing products have been free of NMP and fulfil even the high quality demands and environmental requirements for automotive leather.”
Clariant’s Aqualen topcoat range meets strict customer performance and processing requirements without the use of phthalates, alkylphenolethoxylates and NMP, as well as having very low VOC levels. The high-performance topcoats, which have little impact on the environment, are suitable for all kinds of applications, from glazed kid imitation to high-wear-resistant automotive leather.
