Flame retardants global market

The main types of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are polybromin-ated biphenyls (PBBs), PBDEs, and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). PBDEs have replaced PBBs, which are the first brominated organic compounds to be used as flame retardants and were phased out because of environmental issues, but are now being replaced by TBBPA (Renner, 2000). The global consumption of BFRs is estimated to be 203425 tons in 1999 with PBDEs accounting for 33% (Fig. 2.10). Deca-BDEs, 82% of total PBDEs, are the most widely used product. Domestic BFR consumption in South Korea in 2002 was 49050 tons, of which 25% (i.e., 12408 tons) was PBDEs with deca-BDE accounting for 12324 tons and penta- and octa-BDEs accounting for 84 tons (KMOE, 2005c). Imported amounts of each product in 2003 showed a similar distribution to the consumption estimated in 2002 (Fig. 2.10). In BFR market of Western Europe, consumption of PBDEs has declined from 26% in 1996 to 11% in 1998 (DEPA, 1999). Penta-BDEs product has been restricted for over one decade and is now banned within Europe. Furthermore, there has... 

After PVC, polyolefin copolymers, predominantly polyethylene copolymers, are the next most widely used material for FR applications in wire and cable. Polyethylenes have very good dielectric strength, volume resistivity, mechanical strength, low temperature flexibility, and water resistance. In contrast to PVC, polyolefins are not inherently FR and thus are more highly formulated, requiring the addition of FRs to meet market requirements for flame retardancy. For this reason, and because of the steady global trend toward halogen-free materials for wire and cable applications, more space will be devoted to this section on FR polyolefins compared with the above discussion of PVC. 

Other, US firms, including Merrill Lynch arrived at a similar value total, but gave a slightly differing breakdown of types. The market for flame retardants in 2000 globally was estimated as 2.16 billion. This was broken into bromine 34%, phosphorus 22%, antimony oxide at 17%, ATH 14%, chlorine-based at 7% and others on 5%. 

Nitrogen-containing FRs (without any phosphorus compounds) hold only a small share of the global FR market at present, although their popularity is growing. The main active ingredients are usually melamine cyanurate and melamine hydrobromide, although melamine phosphate is used in intumescent FR systems in combination with pentaerythritol. Melamine based flame retardants employ several modes of flame retardant action. 

In 2001, the FR market in the USA, Western Europe and Asia together was valued by SRI Consulting at nearly US 2 billion, with a sales volume of 1.2 M tonnes, i.e., an average price of 1.7/kg. Consmnption peaked in 1999-2000 and fell severely in 2001 and 2002 with serious slowdowns in the electronics, construction and transport sectors. In late 2003 and 2004 there was a slow recovery, driven mostly by new fire regulations, higher flame retardancy expectations in automotive interiors and a hesitant upturn in the global economy. 

The fastest growth globally in flame retardants over the period from 2004 to 2007 is now expected to be in brominated grades. They are experiencing continued strong use in Japan, partly because they show better recyclability than phosphorus-based ones. Phosphorus based alternatives to halogenated systems come second, and melamine derivatives third. (The latter currently hold only a very small market share and it would not take much new consumption to return an impressive growth rate.)... 

Performance enhancers are added to plastics to provide fimctionality not inherent to polymer itself These include flame retardants (FRs), Heat Stabilizers for PVC, Antioxidants, light stabilizers, biocides, and Antistatic Agents. Performance enhancers for 40% of the total global market for additives are led by FRs with a total value of 2 billion. Among performance enhancers, light stabilizers show above average growth rates of 6-7% (2) (see UV STABILIZERS). 

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