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Flame retardancy industry reviews
December 1995
Additives for Polvmers
demand for Hostavin HALS products - traditionally for shielding greenhouse and agricultural sheeting, but increasingly for protecting engineering plastics from UV radiation - Hoechst has built a 2000 tonnes/ year capacity plant at its Gersthofen site. As market leader in lubricants to improve flow properties of plastics or reduce adhesion to hot metal surfaces, with over 15 000 tonnes/year capacity for Hoechst Wax, Hostalub and Hostamont, Hoechst is due to launch new types of wax shortly, using metallocene catalysts, for entirely new applications. Current developments in Hostaflam halogen-free flame retardants include agents for polyurethane, which reduce flue gas density and largely suppress production of corrosive combustion gases. A range of Hostanox antioxidants has also been developed. The Strategic Additives Business Unit accounted for 5% of the DM 8.2 billion sales of the Speciality Chemicals Division in 1994, amounting to some DM 450 million, 66% of which came from the plastics industry. Contact: Hoechst AG, 65926, Frankfurt/ Main, Germany. Tel: -t 49-69-305-5686; Fax: f 39-69-305- 15444.
Wide additives range showed by Lonza Group With new esterification facilities and an advanced polymer applications laboratory, Lonza Group showed a wide range of additives for polymers at the K’95 exhibition. The Chemical Division of the Alusuisse-Lonza Group, it combines companies manufacturing in Europe and North America, with strong positions in hardeners for thermosetting resins, plasticizers for PVC, lubricants, antistatic agents, slip/antiblock agents and (only in N America) high-purity inorganic flame retardants. As a basic producer of fatty acids, glycerine and sorbitol, Lonza Inc has the
01995
Elsevier
Science Ltd
technical capability to develop new additives for the polymer industry.
Innovations by Lonza in Europe include maleic anhydride for polyester and epoxy hardeners, made by the innovative ALMA process, and trimellitic anhydride, used mainly for PVC plasticizers, of which it is Europe’s only producer. Simultaneous filler/ flame retardant action is offered by Magnifin magnesium oxide and Martinal aluminium trihydrates. Acrawax bis-amide wax is used widely for lubricants and release agents for PVC and many engineering thermoplastics, and Glycolube, Glycostat and Vinyllube are antistats, antifog, lubricants and mould release agents for a variety of polymers. Contact: Lonza AG, Postfach, 5643, Sins, Switzerland. Tel: +41-42-6601 I I; Fax: +41-42-662316.
Additives for PET Additives and masterbatches for PET have been extended by Constab Polymer-Chemie GmbH, with special emphasis on systems for multi-trip PET bottles (as favoured in the German market) and additives for improved recycling of PET. A wide range of colour masterbatches gives efficient colouring to PET bottles and special additive masterbatches improve UV resistance and antistatic behaviour. Multifunctional systems combine both colour and performance improvement. Contact: Constab Polymer-Chemie GmbH & Co, Mtihne tal I6, 59602 R&hen, Germany. Tel: +49-2952-819-O; Fax: +492952-31 40.
MARKETS Flame retardancy industry reviews According to a recently released Business Communications Co Inc study, DFR94 ‘The
December 1995
Additives for Polymers
1994 Flume Retardancy Industry Reviews’, the total US market for flame retardant chemicals was estimated at 273 000 tonnes in 1994, and is projected to have an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 4%, reaching 340 000 tonnes by 1999. Alumina trihydrate is estimated to represent 118 000 tonnes of the 1994 market. The market for this high tonnage volume, low value-added chemical is expected to have a 4% AAGR and reach 143 000 tonnes by 1999. Antimony oxide is forecast to grow at a slow 3% annual rate from 23 600 tonnes in 1994 to 27 000 tonnes in 1999. Alleged toxicity problems and worldwide oversupply, aggravated by high-cost Chinese exports, are combining to hold down consumption. Bromine-based flame retardants are estimated to have a 46 000 tonnes market in 1994. Although they do not lead the market in terms of tonnage, their high value-added nature permits these chemicals to lead the field in dollar value. Their market is forecast to have a robust 7% AAGR and reach 64 000 tonnes by 1999. Chlorine-based flame retardant chemicals are estimated to represent 47 000 tonnes in 1994, and the market is projected to have an AAGR of 3%, to reach 54 000 tonnes by 1999. Chlorinated chemicals cause environmental concern which depresses market growth from what it would otherwise be. The market for phosphorus-based fire retardant chemicals is expected to have a 6% AAGR, which would increase its market size from an estimated 29 000 tonnes in 1994, to 38 500 tonnes in 1999. A large number of non-halogenated, phosphorus-based, high value-added compounds have recently been introduced or are nearing commercialization, which will help drive the healthy market. Magnesium hydroxide fire retardant chemicals are estimated to represent a 4500 tonnes market in 1994. Driven by desire for alternatives to halogenated chemicals, this market is
6
projected to increase 5% annually to reach 5440 tonnes by 1999. Other fire retardant chemicals, primarily boron-, molybdenum-, and nitrogen-based compounds, continue to find a market as synergists and as partial replacements for higher priced chemicals. Their market, which is projected to nearly keep pace with the overall fire retardant chemicals market growth, is forecast to have a 4% AAGR from 4500 tonnes in 1994 to 5440 tonnes by 1999.
The study, reference DFR 94 The 1994 Flame Retardancy Industry Reviews, published August 1995, is priced at $1500 and is available from: Business Communications Co Inc, 25 Van Zant Street, Norwalk, CT 06855, USA. Tel: +I-203-853-4266; Fax: +I-203-8.53- 0348.
Rh6ne-Poulenc continues TiO, expansion Within the framework of an announced plan to raise overall capacity for titanium dioxide to 145 000 tonnes/year, the French group Rhone-Poulenc has announced an expansion from 95 000 tonnes/year to 110 000 tonnes, with a FFr 95 million investment programme at its Le Havre, France site, scheduled to come into operation in 1996. There will be another increase by 1998. The plant at Thann, E France, is also being enlarged.
Contact: Rhcine-Poulenc Chimie, Les Miroirs, La Defense 3, Cedex 29, 92097 Paris La Defense, France. Tel: +33-1-4768-1234: Fax: +33-I-47-68-1911.
SCM reassures on TiO, supply It is no secret that titanium dioxide has been in short supply worldwide during 1995, as world economies emerged from recession but, rather than say ‘I told you so’, SCM chairman Donald Borst promises that its scheduled capacity increase will come on stream early in 1996; until then the company
01995
Elsevier
Science Ltd
Additives for Polvmers
demand for Hostavin HALS products - traditionally for shielding greenhouse and agricultural sheeting, but increasingly for protecting engineering plastics from UV radiation - Hoechst has built a 2000 tonnes/ year capacity plant at its Gersthofen site. As market leader in lubricants to improve flow properties of plastics or reduce adhesion to hot metal surfaces, with over 15 000 tonnes/year capacity for Hoechst Wax, Hostalub and Hostamont, Hoechst is due to launch new types of wax shortly, using metallocene catalysts, for entirely new applications. Current developments in Hostaflam halogen-free flame retardants include agents for polyurethane, which reduce flue gas density and largely suppress production of corrosive combustion gases. A range of Hostanox antioxidants has also been developed. The Strategic Additives Business Unit accounted for 5% of the DM 8.2 billion sales of the Speciality Chemicals Division in 1994, amounting to some DM 450 million, 66% of which came from the plastics industry. Contact: Hoechst AG, 65926, Frankfurt/ Main, Germany. Tel: -t 49-69-305-5686; Fax: f 39-69-305- 15444.
Wide additives range showed by Lonza Group With new esterification facilities and an advanced polymer applications laboratory, Lonza Group showed a wide range of additives for polymers at the K’95 exhibition. The Chemical Division of the Alusuisse-Lonza Group, it combines companies manufacturing in Europe and North America, with strong positions in hardeners for thermosetting resins, plasticizers for PVC, lubricants, antistatic agents, slip/antiblock agents and (only in N America) high-purity inorganic flame retardants. As a basic producer of fatty acids, glycerine and sorbitol, Lonza Inc has the
01995
Elsevier
Science Ltd
technical capability to develop new additives for the polymer industry.
Innovations by Lonza in Europe include maleic anhydride for polyester and epoxy hardeners, made by the innovative ALMA process, and trimellitic anhydride, used mainly for PVC plasticizers, of which it is Europe’s only producer. Simultaneous filler/ flame retardant action is offered by Magnifin magnesium oxide and Martinal aluminium trihydrates. Acrawax bis-amide wax is used widely for lubricants and release agents for PVC and many engineering thermoplastics, and Glycolube, Glycostat and Vinyllube are antistats, antifog, lubricants and mould release agents for a variety of polymers. Contact: Lonza AG, Postfach, 5643, Sins, Switzerland. Tel: +41-42-6601 I I; Fax: +41-42-662316.
Additives for PET Additives and masterbatches for PET have been extended by Constab Polymer-Chemie GmbH, with special emphasis on systems for multi-trip PET bottles (as favoured in the German market) and additives for improved recycling of PET. A wide range of colour masterbatches gives efficient colouring to PET bottles and special additive masterbatches improve UV resistance and antistatic behaviour. Multifunctional systems combine both colour and performance improvement. Contact: Constab Polymer-Chemie GmbH & Co, Mtihne tal I6, 59602 R&hen, Germany. Tel: +49-2952-819-O; Fax: +492952-31 40.
MARKETS Flame retardancy industry reviews According to a recently released Business Communications Co Inc study, DFR94 ‘The
December 1995
Additives for Polymers
1994 Flume Retardancy Industry Reviews’, the total US market for flame retardant chemicals was estimated at 273 000 tonnes in 1994, and is projected to have an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 4%, reaching 340 000 tonnes by 1999. Alumina trihydrate is estimated to represent 118 000 tonnes of the 1994 market. The market for this high tonnage volume, low value-added chemical is expected to have a 4% AAGR and reach 143 000 tonnes by 1999. Antimony oxide is forecast to grow at a slow 3% annual rate from 23 600 tonnes in 1994 to 27 000 tonnes in 1999. Alleged toxicity problems and worldwide oversupply, aggravated by high-cost Chinese exports, are combining to hold down consumption. Bromine-based flame retardants are estimated to have a 46 000 tonnes market in 1994. Although they do not lead the market in terms of tonnage, their high value-added nature permits these chemicals to lead the field in dollar value. Their market is forecast to have a robust 7% AAGR and reach 64 000 tonnes by 1999. Chlorine-based flame retardant chemicals are estimated to represent 47 000 tonnes in 1994, and the market is projected to have an AAGR of 3%, to reach 54 000 tonnes by 1999. Chlorinated chemicals cause environmental concern which depresses market growth from what it would otherwise be. The market for phosphorus-based fire retardant chemicals is expected to have a 6% AAGR, which would increase its market size from an estimated 29 000 tonnes in 1994, to 38 500 tonnes in 1999. A large number of non-halogenated, phosphorus-based, high value-added compounds have recently been introduced or are nearing commercialization, which will help drive the healthy market. Magnesium hydroxide fire retardant chemicals are estimated to represent a 4500 tonnes market in 1994. Driven by desire for alternatives to halogenated chemicals, this market is
6
projected to increase 5% annually to reach 5440 tonnes by 1999. Other fire retardant chemicals, primarily boron-, molybdenum-, and nitrogen-based compounds, continue to find a market as synergists and as partial replacements for higher priced chemicals. Their market, which is projected to nearly keep pace with the overall fire retardant chemicals market growth, is forecast to have a 4% AAGR from 4500 tonnes in 1994 to 5440 tonnes by 1999.
The study, reference DFR 94 The 1994 Flame Retardancy Industry Reviews, published August 1995, is priced at $1500 and is available from: Business Communications Co Inc, 25 Van Zant Street, Norwalk, CT 06855, USA. Tel: +I-203-853-4266; Fax: +I-203-8.53- 0348.
Rh6ne-Poulenc continues TiO, expansion Within the framework of an announced plan to raise overall capacity for titanium dioxide to 145 000 tonnes/year, the French group Rhone-Poulenc has announced an expansion from 95 000 tonnes/year to 110 000 tonnes, with a FFr 95 million investment programme at its Le Havre, France site, scheduled to come into operation in 1996. There will be another increase by 1998. The plant at Thann, E France, is also being enlarged.
Contact: Rhcine-Poulenc Chimie, Les Miroirs, La Defense 3, Cedex 29, 92097 Paris La Defense, France. Tel: +33-1-4768-1234: Fax: +33-I-47-68-1911.
SCM reassures on TiO, supply It is no secret that titanium dioxide has been in short supply worldwide during 1995, as world economies emerged from recession but, rather than say ‘I told you so’, SCM chairman Donald Borst promises that its scheduled capacity increase will come on stream early in 1996; until then the company
01995
Elsevier
Science Ltd