Use of mono- and disubstituted organotins as catalysts

The concentration of tin catalysts is between 0.001% and 0.5% of the finished polymer. Following production, the catalyst is retained within the polymer (they are homogeneous catalysts) and hence within the finished product (ETICA, 2002), although in some cases the organotin may be partially degraded by the high temperatures used in the production processes. 

There are several key areas of use for organotins as catalysts, and a separate discussion, including that for downstream markets, is provided for each of these in the following sections. 

---