Demand for polyurethane

Polycarbonate (PC). Polycarbonate is similar to the chemical behavior of polyesters. It is produced from a reaction of bisphenol A [2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane] and phosgene. The price has ranged from 1.29 per pound to 1.36 per pound [6], Demand for polyurethane was 1,440 million lb in 1996 and is expected to grow at a rate of 5.2% annually [7],... 

Polyurethane (PU). Automotive polyurethanes can be measured from a reaction of isocyanates and alcohol. Many automotive foams use toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The demand for polyurethane is projected to reach 7.4 billion in resin cost in 2009. This represents an increase of 3.2% from 2008. The total demand is expected to be 2.8 billion lb in 2009, up by 4.5% [10], The price varies greatly, depending on the type of polyurethane used. 

The future worldwide demand for polyurethanes will depend on the net result of a series of key impetus and constraint factors ... 

The footwear industry uses polyurethane as microcellular elastomer for shoe soles thermoplastic elastomers for ski boots, coatings for shoe uppers, and adhesives. The microcellular elastomer shoe soles have been used for over 10 years. The polyurethane shoe sole offers lightweight and flexibility in styling. Fine detail simulating wood, cork, leather, and handstitching can be readily reproduced. New style sport shoes have been developed to incorporate multi-colors and multi-density soles. As a result, these shoe soles are used in women s high-fashion shoes, work shoes, and a variety of leisure and sport shoes. The current demand for polyurethane shoe soles is for continued steady growth and demand. There has been a continued shift of the shoe sole market to the Middle East and Eastern European areas. 

In the production of non-chlorinated products chlorine acts as a facilitator. After separation from the product it is recycled mainly as hydrogen chloride or disposed as a salt. The production volume has increased by ca 15%, caused mainly by the rising demand for polyurethanes, resins and particularly polycarbonates. Titanium dioxide is an example for inorganic non-chlorinated compounds. 

The increasing use of polyester sheet moulding compounds, other composites and light metals in automotive panels will increase demand for polyurethanes and epoxies. 

Butanediol. 1,4-Butanediol [110-63-4] made from formaldehyde and acetylene, is a significant market for formaldehyde representing 11% of its demand (115). It is used to produce tetrahydrofuran (THF), which is used for polyurethane elastomers y-butyrolactone, which is used to make various pyrroHdinone derivatives poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), which is an engineering plastic and polyurethanes. Formaldehyde growth in the acetylenic chemicals market is threatened by alternative processes to produce 1,4-butanediol not requiring formaldehyde as a raw material (140) (see Acetylene-derived chemicals). 

Much more important is the hydrogenation product of butynediol, 1,4-butanediol [110-63-4]. The intermediate 2-butene-l,4-diol is also commercially available but has found few uses. 1,4-Butanediol, however, is used widely in polyurethanes and is of increasing interest for the preparation of thermoplastic polyesters, especially the terephthalate. Butanediol is also used as the starting material for a further series of chemicals including tetrahydrofuran, y-butyrolactone, 2-pyrrohdinone, A/-methylpyrrohdinone, and A/-vinylpyrrohdinone (see Acetylene-DERIVED chemicals). The 1,4-butanediol market essentially represents the only growing demand for acetylene as a feedstock. This demand is reported (34) as growing from 54,000 metric tons of acetylene in 1989 to a projected level of 88,000 metric tons in 1994. 

In the second quarter of the twentieth century, with the development of poly(vinyl chloride), nylon, polyurethane, and other polymers, many new and improved leather-like materials, so-called coated fabrics (qv), were placed on the market. Shortages of leather after World War 11 led to the expansion of these leather-like materials ("man-made" leathers) to replace leather in shoes, clothing, bags, upholstery, and other items. DurabiUty and waterproof quahties superior to leather made coated fabrics advantageous, in spite of imperfection in breathabihty and flexibiUty. Demands for shoes, clothing, and other items are stiU increasing due to growing world population and urbanization. 

Process parameters can be varied to change the MDA isomer distribution and oligomeric content of PMDA products. Generally, aniline to formaldehyde molar ratios of 2 to 5 are used. To increase the MDA content, higher ratios of aniline to formaldehyde are employed. Increasing the acid to aniline ratio also increases the 4,4 -MDA content of the diamine fraction. Historically, the polyurethane industry consumes as much of the 4,4 -MDI isomer as possible. Recently, however, there has been an increasing demand for higher 2,4 -MDI and 2,4 -PMDI products to be used as replacements for... 

In 1994, the worldwide consumption of rubber was approximately 14.5 million tons a year, of which about 40% consisted of natural rubber. Natural rubber is produced as latex by tropical rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). It is processed locally and therefore the quality of natural rubber fluctuates remarkably [ 140]. Due to increasing demand for rubbers, combined with a decreasing production capacity in Asia and a vast increase in labor costs, the price of natural rubber is still rising sharply. In 1990-1994, the average price of natural rubber was about 0.38 /lb, while in 1996 it was already over 0.80 /lb. The remaining 60% of the articles were manufactured from synthetic petroleum-based rubbers such as isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber and polyurethanes. The quality of synthetic rubbers is constant, and their price varies between 2 and 5 US per kilogram [137-140]. 

World demand for nitric acid will continue to be largely dependent upon demand for solid ammonium nitrate fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer solutions that incorporate ammonium nitrate. Since the early 1980 s, urea has been displacing ammonia nitrate as a fertilizer. The resulting reduction in demand for nitric acid has been partially offset by the increased use of ammonium nitrate in explosives and by the growth in production of polyurethane foams and nylon-6,6. World nitric acid production declined by about 5% between 1987 and 1999, but it is projected to increase marginally by 2005. The declines occurred mainly in the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Production increases occurred mainly in the United States and Africa91,104. Nitric Acid production in the United States is listed in Table 9.11. 

MDI [4,4 -methylenebis (phenylisocyanate)] accounted for almost 85% of the worldwide demand for aniline in 2000. MDI is used primarily to make rigid polyurethane foam and polyurethane elastomers. MDI growth is expected to be 6% to 8% per year during the 2000 s as its use continues to increase in the construction industry (the largest user of rigid polyurethane foam) and the auto industry (the largest user of reaction-injection molding plastics). The aniline uses are shown in Table 20.3255. 

Uses. MD1 (4,4 -methylenebis phenyliso-cyanate) accounted for almost 85 percent of the worldwide demand for aniline in 2000. MD1 is used primarily to make rigid polyurethane foam and polyurethane elastomers. 

Spandex stretch fiber, based on polyurethanes, was developed by DuPont and appeared in 1962. From this time, polyurethanes would account for the greater part of demand for anilines. Aniline production alone had more than doubled, to over 100 million lbs. per year, between 1939 and 1957, in part to satisfy demand in products other than dyes. Half the US output was consumed in the production of rubber additives, mainly diphenylamine and cyclohexylamine, the latter used as a chain stopper in manufacture of polyurethanes (also as a boiler water additive and, in the US until banned in 1970, in the manufacture of cyclamate sweeteners). Other polymers, such as epoxy resins, relied on the bulk availability of various aromatic amines (Chapter 14). 

Nowadays, aniline remains one of the basic starting materials, not only in the dye industry but also in the chemical industry (for polyaniline, polyurethane) and pharmaceutical industry (for the manufacture of drugs such as antipyrine, antifebrin etc.)33. World demand for aniline is expected to grow at an impressive rate of several percents per year... 

Process improvements in the manufacture of aniline have been driven by tremendous demand, particularly from the rubber industry, and for use in the manufacture of isocyanates for polyurethanes, dyestuffs, sulfa drugs, agrochemicals, and detonators and stabilizers for explosives. Two widely used catalytic processes have been developed, one vapor phase, the other liquid phase. Both processes are highly exothermic, and the exchange and use of heat is important4. 

Used for polyurethane, polypropylene, polyester and polyamide fibers where it provides gas fading resistance at low load levels. In addition, the molecular structure and the relatively high molecular weight results in a high extraction resistance in demanding applications like hot water conducting polypropylene pipes. 

---