Polyvinyl Alcohol Has Bright Market ProspectBy Xu Xiyang

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a water-soluble polymer with properties between plastics and rubbers and has extensive applications. Besides the use in vinylon fiber, great quantities of PVA were also used in coatings, adhesives, textile sizing agents, paper processing agents, emulsifiers and dispersants. The application scope covers textile, food, pharmaceutical, construction and papermaking sectors.

Great consumption distribution changes

More than 20 countries and regions in the world can produce PVA nowadays. China has 13 PVA units and the total capacity of PVA was 551 thousand t/a in 2004. Three units use the natural gas acetylene and petroleum ethylene process and the capacity is 135 thousand t/a, accounting for 24.5% of the total. The other 10 units use the calcium carbide acetylene process and the capacity is 416 thousand t/a, accounting for 75.5% of the total.     Major PVA producers in the world today include China, Japan and Britain. The export amount of PVA in Japan is the largest, while North America and Europe are the largest PVA importers.   In terms of consumption distribution, the application focus varies from different countries. In the United States, the consumption of PVA in textile sizing agents and adhesives accounts for around 50% of the total, the consumption proportion in polymer assistants, paper processing agents and coatings is 21 - 23% today and the proportion is on the increase. In Western Europe the consumption of PVA in formal, polymer assistants and paper processing agents accounts for 65 - 67% of the total, and the consumption proportion in textile sizing agents and adhesives is 27 - 28%. In Japan the consumption of PVA in vinylon fiber and adhesives accounts for 48 - 51% of the total, the consumption in paper processing agents, plastic films and textile sizing agents accounts for 33 - 36% and the consumption in textile sizing agents is decreasing.   China is a big PVA producer and the largest PVA consumer in the world. In China PVA is mainly used in the vinylon fiber production and the consumption in this sector is more than 100 thousand tons a year. After the development and large-scale production of other synthetic fibers such as polyester fiber, acrylic fiber and propylene fiber, they quickly occupied and replaced the vinylon fiber market because their production cost is low and their properties are similar to vinylon fiber. The production and consumption of PVA was greatly affected. With the constant expansion of non-fiber utilization, however, the production of PVA has made a gradual recovery. The annual output of vinylon fiber in China has reduced from more than 10 thousand tons in the past to around 20 thousand tons nowadays, but the consumption proportion of PVA in non-fiber uses has increased to 90%. The consumption distribution of PVA has therefore been thoroughly changed.

Product diversification

The output of PVA in China has a stable growth in recent years. PVA varieties developed and produced in China have also become more diversified. With the implementation of positive financial policies, the application of PVA has been extended to fine chemical sectors such as adhesives, coatings and varieties with high viscosity have high market demand. Major events such as Beijing Olympic Games will tremendously promote the demand growth of PVA in non-fiber uses.    PVA has environmental benign properties such as no toxicity and no hazards, therefore, it has a bright developmental prospect. The increase in consumption is mainly in varieties with high added value. The domestic sale and the export of PVA will have a synchronous growth in the next few years. The export market, in particular, will have a further expansion.    As PVA has many excellent physical and chemical properties, it gains an extensive application in production and an outstanding development in recent years.    (1) Paper surface sizing agents made from PVA can improve the surface strength, interior tension, glossiness, smoothness, water resistance, oil resistance and organic solvent resistance of paper.    (2) Adhesives made from PVA have deterioration resistance, stable quality and can replace starch and water glass or mix with them. As PVA water solution has strong water adhesion and good filming behavior, PVA can replace casein with high price and easy deterioration in the production of pigment adhesives. Pressure-sensitive adhesives made from PVA can be used in labels, stamps, wallpaper and packing strips. PVA-modified urea-formaldehyde resin and phenolic resin can be used to bond artificial boards and composite boards.    (3) Thermoplastic polymer compounds made from PVA have excellent water resistance, corrosion resistance and great durability. Their coatings layers do not expand with contact of water. They are architecture coatings with low cost and convenient operation and have extensively used in the construction sector.    (4) PVA also has an outstanding feature in sanitation. Lots of testing performed by research organizations in the United States and Japan proved that PVA has no toxicity. Except for the use as an oral drug or food for direct entry into human bodies, its contact with skin is totally harmless. PVA can therefore be used in cosmetic and food packaging sectors.    (5) Besides these well-developed applications, new uses of PVA are also developing. For example, PVA is a material with biodegradability. Medical apparatuses, food packages, office supplies and sanitary materials produced through the modification by PVA or the addition of other polymer materials can have biodegradation in appropriate conditions.

Supply and Demand of PVA in China        (thousand tons)                2003    2004    2005Output          436     448     477Import          33      33      35Export          25      27      37Consumption     444     454     475Source: CNCIC Chemdata