Global flame retardant consumption

Fig. 2.10. Worldwide Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) consumption Americas, Europe, Asia and Global consumption in 1999 (www.bsef.com), Japan in 1999 and 2001 (Watanabe and Sakai, 2003), and Korea in 2003 (KMOE, 2005c). Korea s values are not consumed but imported amounts. However, the consumption amount is estimated to be similar with this pattern (see the text).

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... 

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.)... 

Under these conditions, regulations impose the use of materials possessing thermal stability as well as efficient fire retardant properties. In parallel, emissions of smoke must be low, not very opaque, not very toxic, and not very corrosive. This evolution toward greater safety seriously limits the use of many materials and involves the rejection of solutions largely used so far and, in particular, halogen-based flame retardants, on account of environmental concerns. Moreover, analysis of various statistics on plastic consumption (180 MT/yr, with a global annual growth rate of approximately 8%) shows the economic importance of this field and illustrates the world s industrial stake in it. 

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