Axion awarded patent for flame-retardant coating

Axion International, producer of industrial building products and railroad ties made from 100 percent recycled plastic, has been awarded a new patent that will expand Axion's intellectual property portfolio and protect the company as it begins to sell a unique flame-retardant coating for use in the flame-retardant industry. The coating can be used on Axion's existing line of 100 percent recycled plastic railroad ties and structural building products, in addition to other applications. The patent was awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to Rutgers University in March 2011. Through existing licensing agreements with Rutgers, Axion is authorized to sell and sub-license the unique flame-retardant coating throughout the United States, North America and South America. "We are pleased to announce this latest addition to Axion's growing intellectual property portfolio," said Steve Silverman, Axion's CEO. "This flame-retardant coating represents an impressive new technology to enhance and diversify our revenue stream. Not only does the coating tie-in perfectly with our existing railroad and structural building product lines, it also opens our sales channels to various other industries that could benefit from effective flame resistant surfaces." "Although originally designed for use on plastic load-bearing material such as Axion's railroad ties, due to the ease in which the coating is applied to the substrate, it can be used on virtually any surface," said Thomas Nosker, Ph.D., at Rutgers University. "This flame-retardant coating has many advantages over existing technologies, including the fact that it is halogen-free, which is beneficial due to the rising concerns over use of brominated flame-retardants and other halogen-based chemicals that can be hazardous to human health. Based on its unique properties, this product represents a significant shift from the way most flame retardants reduce combustibility."