Hexabromocyclododecane, often shortened to HBCD, is a cyclic low-molecular-weight hydrocarbon that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It was the most popular do-it-yourself reductive agent for PVC pipes, but it is identified as a major contributor to climate change.

Several countries are now imposing strict regulations on its use. It is a powder, and the smallest particle size characteristic of this product is approximately 1 µm.

It can be produced on a large scale by reacting cyclohexene with bromine in an electrodeless discharge process. The properties of Hexabromocyclododecane make it especially useful in manufacturing plastic resins and polyurethanes.

Thanks to its low toxicity, repetitive exposure of workers is believed not to cause any major health effects like trihalomethanes (THMs) or polybrominated mixtures (PBBs).

• Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) has served as a flame retardant in plastics because it reacts readily with the hydrocarbon oxidized during combustion.
• HBCD spreads quickly throughout consumer items made from polymer materials through product contamination--packaging features contaminated by chemical processing components are notorious sources of carcinogenic substances.
• Applications for Hexabromocyclododecane are diverse. It is used to make polyurethane foam, soundproofing material, insulation, varnish for roofs and furniture, protective coatings for textiles. It is also used as an industrial chemical to manufacture other chemicals, polyester resins, and metalworking fluids.
• Given it has great thermal stability, low vapor pressure, low volatility, good acidic resistance and good thermal stability makes HBCD useful as a feedstock for other compound production.