US specialty chemicals company Chemtura is expanding capacity for Low Free (LF) MDI in Latina, Italy.  The expansion is due for completion by the end of 2016. The company said the extra output of its Adiprene LF MDI prepolymers will allow it to respond to growing customer demand as a replacement for polyurethane curing agent 4,4’methylenebis(2-chloroaniline), or MbOCA.

Under REACh legislation, EU companies will be prohibited from using MbOCA, a suspected carcinogen, beyond Nov. 22, 2017, unless they use 1 t/y or more and have secured authorization by May 22, 2016. Chemtura said the increase would also allow greater flexibility to balance production between the different LF prepolymer chemistries at its other facility in Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.

The company manufactures a broad range of LF prepolymers, including TDI, MDI, 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI).