Kisuma Chemicals, a global leader in magnesium-based additives, officially launches two breakthrough products at K 2025 – KISUMA Xand Zenthos FR – targeting halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) polymer formulations.

Kisuma’s new HFFR products are designed for wires and cables.

KISUMA X is a next-generation synthetic magnesium hydroxide flame retardant developed to achieve high HFFR performance at lower dosage levels in polyolefin, EVA and nylon (PA) compounds, while Zentho FR is a new FR product family designed for partial or full replacement of antimony trioxide (ATO) in flexible PVC.

“Driven by stricter fire safety regulations, the global market is noticeably shifting towards HFFR systems, with growing adoption in data centers, automotive electrification and public infrastructure. KISUMA X and Zenthos FR respond directly to these industry challenges by providing superior economics, safety and supply chain security,” said Zachary Hoffman, Business Development Lead EMEA at Kisuma Chemicals.

KISUMA X will become commercially available in 2026 while several first-generation Zenthos FR products can now already be supplied in commercial volumes. The Zenthos family will be expanded further and begin to comprise next-generation grades in the months ahead.

KISUMA X

As an advanced magnesium hydroxide, KISUMA X features a unique high-aspect-ratio particle shape and achieves HFFR requirements at much lower dosage levels compared to conventional magnesium hydroxide.

This results in better processability and gives formulators greater freedom to optimize their compounds, enabling the transition away from halogenated FR systems and opening new formulation options in polyolefins, EVA and nylon systems.

Although halogenated flame retardants (e.g. brominated and chlorinated compounds) have a long history for their effectiveness, they are increasingly restricted under EU REACH and RoHS regulations due to concerns about toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation.

KISUMA X eliminates the concerns about toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation in halogenated flame retardants, without compromise in performance, offering superior flame retardancy and smoke suppression.

Relevant applications include PE and PP compounds for data and communication cables, renewable energy power cables, automotive wires and wiring harnesses, low-smoke zero-halogen building wires, as well as EVA and nylon compounds used in consumer electronics and electric appliances.

Zenthos FR

Zenthos FR combines Kisuma’s new solutions for replacing ATO in flexible PVC and PVC plastisols under one brand. It provides a non-toxic, sustainable alternative that enables compounders to maintain performance while removing substances of concern from their products.

It also offers formulation flexibility in zinc and zinc-free options, helps compounders meet strict FR standards at cost-efficient dosage levels and provides multifunctional benefits, including char formation, smoke suppression, thermal stabilization and improved weatherability in a single FR additive.

Target applications are coated fabrics, wires and cables, building envelopes, flooring, wall coverings, geomembranes and others where flame retardancy and sustainability have become increasingly critical.