Consumption thermoplastics

Uses. The largest uses of butanediol are internal consumption in manufacture of tetrahydrofuran and butyrolactone (145). The largest merchant uses are for poly(butylene terephthalate) resins (see Polyesters,thermoplastic) and in polyurethanes, both as a chain extender and as an ingredient in a hydroxyl-terminated polyester used as a macroglycol. Butanediol is also used as a solvent, as a monomer for vadous condensation polymers, and as an intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals. 

Thermal Oxidative Stability. ABS undergoes autoxidation and the kinetic features of the oxygen consumption reaction are consistent with an autocatalytic free-radical chain mechanism. Comparisons of the rate of oxidation of ABS with that of polybutadiene and styrene—acrylonitrile copolymer indicate that the polybutadiene component is significantly more sensitive to oxidation than the thermoplastic component (31—33). Oxidation of polybutadiene under these conditions results in embrittlement of the mbber because of cross-linking such embrittlement of the elastomer in ABS results in the loss of impact resistance. Studies have also indicated that oxidation causes detachment of the grafted styrene—acrylonitrile copolymer from the elastomer which contributes to impact deterioration (34). 

It is axiomatic that sales analysis depends on detailed records of sales of a specific chemical to a specific company. Paramount to the success of such studies is the existence of data recorded on a systematic and continuous basis. It follows that these studies are done best by an ia-house staff on products already produced by the company. However, on occasion, a product new to the company can be studied by the ia-house group with the assistance of their field sales force. For example, a producer of polypropylene could use its people to secure data on the consumption of other thermoplastics by their customers. Such an exercise might identify opportunities for a new producer, but a more detailed marketing research study would probably be done before entry iato the new product area was made. 

Thermoforming and Extrusion. Improved equipment and polymers have increased the capabiUty to extmde and thermoform polypropylene however, consumption of polypropylene in these areas has not grown dramatically. Drinking straws are commonly extmded from polypropylene, however most larger diameter tubes, such as pipes and conduits, are predominantly extmded from other thermoplastics. Extmded sheet is thermoformed into food containers and trays polypropylene is used when microwavabiUty is desired. 

Thermoplastics. The highest consumption of color concentrates is in thermoplastic resins, such as low and high density polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, and polystyrene. Processing techniques for thermoplastics are usually based on dry color dispersion in a compatible resin (36). 

Because of increased production and the lower cost of raw material, thermoplastic elastomeric materials are a significant and growing part of the total polymers market. World consumption in 1995 is estimated to approach 1,000,000 metric tons (3). However, because the melt to soHd transition is reversible, some properties of thermoplastic elastomers, eg, compression set, solvent resistance, and resistance to deformation at high temperatures, are usually not as good as those of the conventional vulcanized mbbers. AppHcations of thermoplastic elastomers are, therefore, in areas where these properties are less important, eg, footwear, wine insulation, adhesives, polymer blending, and not in areas such as automobile tires. 

Global consumption of thermoplastic mbbers of all types is estimated at about 600,000 t/yr (51). Of this, 42% was estimated to be consumed in the United States, 39% in Western Europe, and 19% in Japan. At present, the woddwide market is estimated to be divided as follows styrenic block copolymers, 48% hard polymer/elastomer combinations, 26% thermoplastic polyurethanes, 12% thermoplastic polyesters, 4% and others, 9%. The three largest end uses were transportation, 23% footwear, 18% and adhesives, coatings, etc, 16%. The ranges of the hardness values, prices, and specific gravities of commercially available materials are given in Table 4. 

Table 1.2, based on Modern Plastics sources, provides USA consumption figures (based on sales data) for the main groups of plastics materials. The figures probably underestimate the global importance of the major tonnage thermoplastics since these are also manufactured in quantity in developing countries and OPEC countries. 

It is an interesting paradox that one of the least stable of commercially available polymers should also be, in terms of tonnage consumption at least, one of the two most important plastics materials available today. Yet this is the unusual position held by poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), a material whose commercial success has been to a large extent due to the discovery of suitable stabilisers and other additives which has enabled useful thermoplastic compounds to be produced. 

Thermoplastic elastomers have now been available for over 30 years and the writer recalls organising a conference on these materials in 1969. In spite of considerable publicity since that time these materials still only comprise about 5-10% of the rubber market (equivalent to about 1-2% of total plastics consumption). It is important to appreciate that simply being a thermoplastic material (and hence being processed and reprocessed like a thermoplastic plastics material) is not enough to ensure widespread application. Crucially the material must have acceptable properties for a potential end-use and at a finished product price advantageous over other materials. 

Thermoplastic elastomer consumption, approximately 0.8 million tons, is forecasted to reach over one million tons by the year 2000. 

For filled thermoplastics (30-40% by mass of chalk, ash or asbestos), complex shear may, as reported in [235], provide an increase of apparatus productivity by 40-80%, or if the flow rate is to be constant, the pressure in the molding instrument may be reduced by at least 20-30%. It is to be noted that while some extra power is required to create the complex shear conditions, the total power consumption of the apparatus as a whole may be reduced, on the power per unit of product basis, due to the high extrusion rates [233]. 

Table 1-2 provides estimates of the major types of plastics consumed yearly worldwide that now total 339,990 million lb (154 million tons). About 90% are thermoplastics (TPs) and 10% thermoset (TS) plastics. USA and Europe consumption s are each about one-third of the world total. There are well over 35,000 different type plastic materials worldwide. However, most of them are not used in large quantities they have specific performance and/or cost capabilities generally for specific products by specific processes that principally include many thousands of products (Chapters 6 7). 

Nylon (Polyamide) PA is a crystalline plastic and the first and largest consumption of the engineering thermoplastic. This family of TPs are tough, slippery, with good electrical properties, but hygroscopic and with dimensional stability lower than most other engineering types. Also offered in reinforced and filled grades as a moderately priced metal replacement. 

Thermoplastic consumption is roughly 80% or more of the total plastic consumption. Alloys of compatible thermoplastics allow applications to benefit from the attractive properties of each polymer while masking their defects. 

The pyramid of excellence (see Figure 1.13) arbitrarily classifies the main families of thermoplastics according to their performances, consumption level and degree of specificity ... 

Some polymers are used industrially in their two forms, thermoplastic and thermoset for example, the polyethylenes or the VAE. Thermoset consumption is roughly 12-20% of the total plastic consumption. 

The most commonly used liquid thermoplastics are plastisols (pastes of PVC with a high content of plasticizers). There is also a polyamide of very low consumption. Some of the processes can be applied to powders in suspension. 

For Western Europe, thermoplastics represent 79% of overall plastic consumption. Data for North America is perhaps higher. 

The growth rate, 4-7% per year, is greater than that of the plastics industry as a whole. Table 2.6 and Figure 2.4 show the consumption of composites in North America, Europe and Asia. Approximately 31% of composite matrices are thermoplastics, and 69% are... 

Figure 2.3. Market shares based on total thermoplastic consumption...

The consumption of thermoplastics predominates (as indicated by Table 2.3) but the market share distribution of the thermoplastic application sectors (see Table 2.8 and Figure 2.7) is nevertheless somewhat different from that of plastics as a whole. Figures vary broadly according to geographical area. 

Figure 2.9 gives some indications of the distribution of thermoplastic consumption according to processing method ... 

Table 2.10 displays the consumption of the major thermoplastics in 2005 for the three main geographic areas, together with market shares and average annual growth rates (AAGR). These identified thermoplastics represent roughly 70% of the overall global consumption of plastics. 

Table 2.10 Consumption of major thermoplastics in 2005 for the three main areas...

Thermoplastic polyesters are atypical with an insignificant consumption in China but a high annual growth rate in Europe and America. 

Table 2.12 (after statistics from the American Plastics Council) displays some estimations of consumptions, market shares and average annual growth rates (AACTR) for thermoplastics in North America. The American market shares are close to the global values with a steady growth rate, roughly 5-6% per annum. 

Cadbury will use a cornstarch polymer for the chocolate tray in its Milk Tray range. For the packaging market, the sector with the highest consumption of thermoplastics,... 

Table 2.21 displays the consumption of thermoplastics for films in Europe ... 

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