Polymer world production

United States production of ethylene oxide in 1990 was 2.86 x 10 metric tons. Approximately 16% of the United States ethylene (qv) production is consumed in ethylene oxidation, making ethylene oxide the second largest derivative of ethylene, surpassed only by polyethylene (see Olefin polymers). World ethylene oxide capacity is estimated by country in Table 11. Total world capacity in 1992 was ca 9.6 x 10 metric tons. 

I mentioned in the preface to the sixth edition that when I began preparation of the first edition of this book in the early 1960s world production of plastics materials was of the order of 9 million tonnes per annum. In the late 1990s it has been estimated at 135 million tonnes per annum In spite of this enormous growth my prediction in the first edition that the likelihood of discovering new important general purposes polymers was remote but that new special purpose polymers would continue to be introduced has proved correct. 

The world production of plastics in 1995 is projected at 76 million metric tons (mT) with an annual growth rate (AGR) of 3.7%. The expected AGR of PBAs is 12% and that of composites 16%. In 1987, 21% of polymers were used in blends and 29% in composites and filled plastics [56]. If this trend continues, by 1995 all manufactured resins will be used in multiphase polymeric systems. Two factors moderating the tendency are ... 

Polyethylene is the most extensively used thermoplastic. The ever-increasing demand for polyethylene is partly due to the availability of the monomer from abundant raw materials (associated gas, LPG, naphtha). Other factors are its relatively low cost, ease of processing the polymer, resistance to chemicals, and its flexibility. World production of all polyethylene grades, approximately 100 billion pounds in 1997, is predicted... 

Polyesters are now one of the economically most important classes of polymers, with an overall world production between 25 and 30 million tons in 2000, consisting mostly of PET. This production is rapidly increasing and is expected to continue to do so during the next decade, driven by packaging applications, due to a very favorable image of environmentally friendly and recyclable polymers in western countries, and by textile applications, due to a strong demand in the far-east area to satisfy the needs of an increasing population. 

In 2002, the world production of polymers (not including synthetic libers and rubbers) was ca. 190 million metric tons. Of these, the combined production of poly(ethylene terephthalate), low- and high-density polyethyelene, polypropylene, poly(vinyl chloride), polystyrene, and polyurethane was 152.3 milhon metric tons [1]. These synthetic, petroleum-based polymers are used, inter alia, as engineering plastics, for packing, in the construction-, car-, truck- and food-industry. They are chemically very stable, and can be processed by injection molding, and by extrusion from the melt in a variety of forms. These attractive features, however, are associated with two main problems ... 

Nylon blends, dyeing, 9 204 Nylon block copolymer, 19 762 Nylon carpet fibers, stain-resistant, 19 764 Nylon-clay nanocomposites, 11 313-314 Nylon extrusion, temperatures for, 19 789t Nylon feed yarns, spin-oriented, 19 752 Nylon fiber(s), 24 61 production of, 19 740 world production of, 19 7654 Nylon fiber surfaces, grafting of polymers on, 19 763-764... 

Oxidation is the first step for producing molecules with a very wide range of functional groups because oxygenated compounds are precursors to many other products. For example, alcohols may be converted to ethers, esters, alkenes, and, via nucleophilic substitution, to halogenated or amine products. Ketones and aldehydes may be used in condensation reactions to form new C-C double bonds, epoxides may be ring opened to form diols and polymers, and, finally, carboxylic acids are routinely converted to esters, amides, acid chlorides and acid anhydrides. Oxidation reactions are some of the largest scale industrial processes in synthetic chemistry, and the production of alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, epoxides and carboxylic acids is performed on a mammoth scale. For example, world production of ethylene oxide is estimated at 58 million tonnes, 2 million tonnes of adipic acid are made, mainly as a precursor in the synthesis of nylons, and 8 million tonnes of terephthalic acid are produced each year, mainly for the production of polyethylene terephthalate) [1]. 

Starch is one of the most abimdant plant polysaccharides and is a major source of carbohydrates and energy in the human diet (Zobel and Stephen, 1995). Starch is the most widely used hydrocolloid in the food industry (Wanous, 2004), and is also a widely used industrial substrate polymer. Total annual world production of starch is approximately 60 million MT and it is predicted to increase by additional approximately 10 million MT by 2010 (FAO, 2006b LMC International, 2002 S. K. Patil and Associates, 2007). Com/maize Zea mays L.), cassava (also known as tapioca—Manihot escu-lenta Crantn.), sweet potato Ipomoea batatas L.), wheat Triticum aestivum L.), and potato Solanum tuberosum L.) are the major sources of starch, while rice Oryza sativa L.), barley Hordeum vulgare L.), sago Cycas spp.), arrowroot Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kimtze), buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), etc. contribute in lesser amounts to total global production. 

Rigid foams are used for structural and insulation uses while the flexible materials are used for a vast variety of applications as seen in Figure 2.20. The versatility of polyurethane positions the product as unique in fire polymer world because of the breadth of applications. As we will show, small changes in chemistry can achieve a broad range of physical properties. This statement emphasizes the physical properties and serves as a testament, however, to the lack of chemical interest. It is supported by a description of the independent variables of density and stiffness and the range of products based on the primary attributes of polyurethanes. See Figure 2.21. 

Chloroprene production can be equated approximately to the amount of polymer produced. World production of dry polychloroprene was 135 thousand tonnes in 1960, 254 thousand tonnes in 1970, 314 thousand tonnes in 1980 and 321 thousand tonnes in 1989 (Stewart, 1993). World polychloroprene capacity in 1983 was reported to be (thousand tonnes) United States, 213 Germany, 60 France, 40 United Kingdom, 30 Japan, 85 and centrally plarmed economy countries, 220 (Kleinschmidt, 1986). Current capacities are reported to be (thousand tonnes) United States, 163 Germany, 60 France, 40 United Kingdom, 33 Japan, 88 central Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, 40 and People s Republic of China, 20 (International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers, 1997). 

In 1950 the United States was the leading polymer manufacturer and contributed to 69% of the worlds production. The economic boom in Western Europe and Japan of the 1950s and 1960 s raised their productivity and reduced our world participation to 41% in 1960 and 27% today. The seven largest polymer producing countries are United States, Japan, West Germany, Italy, U.S.S.R., Great Britain, and France, as shown in Figure 2. 

Phenol is an important chemical intermediate of industrial interest, used as substrate for the production of antioxidants, polymers and agrochemicals. Actually, more than of 90% of the world production is realized by the three-step cumene process that leads to the formation of acetone as by-product. 

Performic acid is an unstable, hazardous percarboxylic acid, and must always be generated in situ. Epoxidation with in situ performic and peracetic acid are well established commercial processes. They find application in the epoxidation of alkenes, particularly those of high molecular weight. Many such epoxides are produced on a large scale, and can be classified as vegetable oils, unsaturated esters, unsaturated acids, a-alkenes, natural polymers and synthetic polymers. The most important vegetable oil which is epoxidized commercially is soyabean oil. World production of epoxidized soyabean oil (ESBO) exceeds 150000 metric tons per annum. Epoxidized linseed oil is also important, but produced at a lower rate than ESBO. Both products are formed by usual in situ performic and peracetic acid techniques.23,24 Typical procedures are outlined in Table 3.1.25... 

In the sixties, plastics were being produced in amounts of hundreds of millions of tons, the trends of world production were increasing and the prospects of future development were very optimistic. This era, roughly up to the first oil crisis, is sometimes regarded as the golden age of polymer chemistry. 

---