In recent years, due to the influence of decabromodiphenyl ether and hexabromocyclododecane being listed as persistent organic pollutants, the development of halogenated flame retardants has been greatly affected, resulting in the concept of halogen-free flame retardants. Corresponding to halogen flame retardants, the emergence of this concept has promoted the development of research and manufacture of many halogen-free flame retardants, including phosphorous flame retardants. After 2005, the price of bromine continued to rise, in sharp contrast to the price stability of domestic phosphorus resources, which led to a rapid increase in the price gap between the two. Even the price of bromine flame retardants was once more than twice that of most phosphorus flame retardants. Therefore, the rise in the price of brominated flame retardants has promoted the rapid growth of the market of phosphorous or phosphorous nitrogen flame retardants between 2005 and 2012.
In 2012, the consumption of flame retardants in China was about 474000 tons, of which the proportion of phosphorous flame retardants was the largest, with a total amount of 179000 tons. Compared with the consumption of 90000 tons in 2008, the growth rate was 16.4%. There are many reasons for the rapid growth of the phosphorus-containing flame retardant market. We believe that the most important reason is the high price of its main competitor brominated flame retardant, followed by the downstream market, and the third is the impact of policies and regulations.
First, the rising price of brominated flame retardants has led to the rapid growth of phosphorus-containing flame retardants. The global bromine flame retardant giants are concentrated in Yabao, Kojuya and ICL. Since 2010, the three companies have continuously raised the prices of their own flame retardants and bromine-related products. The rising price of brominated flame retardants will inevitably stimulate the consumption of phosphorous flame retardants and promote the growth of the consumption market of phosphorous flame retardants.
Secondly, the rapid development of downstream industries has driven the consumption growth of phosphorus-containing flame retardants. The consumption proportion of halogenated phosphate and halogen-free phosphate in China's phosphorous flame retardants accounts for 74% of the consumption of phosphorous flame retardants, which are mainly used in building insulation materials, fire retardant coatings, adhesives, copper clad panels, composite materials and other fields with rapid development, in which halogen-free phosphate is widely used in PC/ABS alloys; Ammonium polyphosphate is mainly used for fireproof coatings and general plastics; Hypophosphates are mainly used in engineering plastics such as polyamide and polyester; Red phosphorus flame retardant is mainly used for engineering plastics and general plastics; Phenanthrene flame retardant is mainly used for copper clad laminate.
China has started to study the synthesis and application of ammonium polyphosphate since the 1980s, and has developed rapidly in recent years. In 2003, the consumption of domestic ammonium polyphosphate reached 8000 tons, while in 2012, it reached 26000 tons, showing a continuous growth trend. With the strengthening of national requirements for flame retardant technology, phosphorous flame retardants will continue to play a steady role in the future development due to their price advantages.