POLYAMIDE & INTERMEDIATES

Benzene is consumed primarily in the production of ethylbenzene and styrene monomer, cumene and phenol, cyclohexane, chlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, alkylbenzene and maleic anhydride as well as a chemical intermediate. Benzene can be sourced from reformate, pyrolisis gasoline, toluene disproportionation and the hydrodealkalation of toluene.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Phenol is primarily produced from cumene, although it can also be made from benzoic acid or chlorobenzene. Phenol’s main uses are in the manufacture of phenolic resins, for plywood and moulding powders, and in bisphenol A (BPA) an intermediate for the manufacture of epoxy and polycarbonate resins. Phenol can also be used to produce caprolactam.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Ammonia's major use is as a nitrogen source in fertilisers which account for over 80% of ammonia consumption. Synthetic ammonia is also used in the production of caprolactam, HMDA, acrylonitrile, isocyanates and explosives.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Ammonium sulphate is a low quality fertiliser with low nitrogen content and is slightly acidic, so it is mainly used on alkaline soils to balance the pH. Although it can be made from ammonia and sulphuric acid, the majority of production is as a by-product of chemical process. The manufacture of caprolactam, acrylonitrile and MMA results also in production of ammonium sulphate, which is an unwanted by-product, which is passed to fertiliser companies to sell, either alone or in combination with nutrients containing potassium and phosphorus.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Cyclohexane is made by the hydrogenation of benzene. Its main use is to produce KA Oil, which is a mixture of cyclohexanone (a Ketone) and cyclohexanol (an Alcohol). KA Oil is mostly converted to 100% cyclohexanone, which is used mainly as the raw material to make caprolactam, but is also used as a solvent. Some KA Oil is used directly to make adipic acid by oxidation with nitric acid. There are also some uses of cyclohexane as a solvent.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Adipic acid is a chemical intermediate used in the production of nylon 66 resin and nylon 66 fibre or in polyol and polyurethane production. By far the largest demand is in nylon 66 production for both fibre and resin, whilst the remainder is consumed in non-nylon applications including polyurethanes. It is produced by oxidising cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, generally with a catalyst, and then the products are reacted with nitric acid to form adipic acid.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

HMDA's main use is as the raw material, together with adipic acid, to make polyamide 66, the original nylon. The other main use is the starting material to make hexamethylene diisocyanate. There are various other small volume uses. HMDA is made by hydrogenation of adiponitrile.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

AH salt is produced when adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine, each dissolved in water, are mixed together in the right proportions. The salt, hexamethylene adipate, is formed, and is often called AH Salt, in aqueous solution. The AH Salt polymerises to nylon 66 when the solution is heated, which is the usual process. Sometimes the AH Salt is isolated as crystals by evaporating the solution. This enables it to be transported long distances at lower cost than the aqueous solution, and permits use also as a co-monomer in some special polyamides.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Cyclohexanone is the main raw material for the production of caprolactam. This is the dominant end use, which means that almost all production is in the hands of caprolactam producers. It can be made either from cyclohexane or from phenol. When it is made from cyclohexane also cyclohexanol is co-produced, from which it is separated by distillation. When phenol is the starting material, cyclohexanol is the sole product, which is then de-hyrogenated to cyclohexanone. The other main use is as a solvent, for example for wood varnishes and polyurethane systems.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Caprolactam is the chemical intermediate used in the production of polyamide 6 fibres and resins. Conventional technology for caprolactam production is based on the key intermediate cyclohexanone, which is usually produced by the oxidation of cyclohexane, but it can also be made from phenol or toluene. Cyclohexanone is then reacted with hydroxylamine sulphate to produce cyclohexanone oxime and this is followed by a Beckmann rearrangement using oleum to yield caprolactam. Polyamide 6 is used in engineering resins and nylon fibres.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Polyamide fibre (nylon) is made from caprolactam (in the case of PA6) or AH salt (in the case of PA66) and is produced by a melt spinning process. Nylon can be extruded into a continuous filament or staple offering. Most nylon production is in the form of a filament and is used for stockings and tights, underwear, linings, sports clothing, carpets, technical textiles and tyre cord. Nylon staple production is shrinking and is mainly used for carpeting and industrial applications.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Reinforcement for tyres constructed with the crossply system.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects

Polyamide (Nylon) resins include a range of polymerisation polymers, PA6, PA11, and PA12, as well as several condensation polymers, such as PA66, PA6/10, and PA4/6. PA6 is a polymer of caprolactam. PA66 is produced by condensation polymerisation of adipic acid and HMDA. Together they account for a large majority of the engineering resin volume produced globally. PA6 is easier to injection mould, cast, or film, while PA66 has superior temperature performance and tensile strength in automotive applications and is usually more expensive.

• Market Analysis

• Prices

• Trade Data

• Market Summary

• Price Forecasts

• Supply/Demand

• Single Client Projects