LEVERKUSEN, Germany (July 8, 2009)—Bayer MaterialScience L.L.C. has declared force majeure for the polyurethane raw material toluene diisocyanate in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The company took the action on July 8 because the supply of chlorine to its TDI facility in Brunsbuttel has been severely restricted after Bayer MaterialScience's chlorine electrolysis plant in Brunsbuttel, Germany was damaged by a massive voltage drop.
A rapid reactor shutdown of a nuclear power plant near Hamburg, Germany, on July 4 resulted in damage to the Bayer MaterialScience chlorine electrolysis plant at Brunsbuttel.
The firm said it can't predict when TDI production will become fully operational again at the site.