Swiss specialty chemicals producer Clariant said it has moved to take legal action against Chinese infringement of its flame retardant technology for the phosphinate substance class. This applies in particular, the company said, to its diethylphosphinic acid aluminium salt (DEPAL), which it calls "a leading solution for halogen-free flame retarded engineering thermoplastics such as polyamides and polyesters."

With products marketed under the trademark Exolit OP, the Swiss firm said the technology is "widely covered by numerous patents and patent applications" covering production and sale of substances, formulations of phosphinates with co-flame retardants (synergists), production processes and applications in engineering thermoplastics. 

"We offer a unique level of quality of phosphinates, which by far is not met by products being offered by other companies," Clariant said.