Trimellitic Anhydride Capacity Is Surplus

Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is an important organic chemical product mainly used to produce PVC resin plasticizers, polyimide resin paints, water-soluble alkyd resins, epoxy resin curing agents, dipping agents for low-pressure and pulse power capacitors, cine films, water treatment agents and surfactants.    The total capacity of TMA in the world is around 250 thousand t/a today. The total consumption is around 170 thousand tons a year. The consumption proportion is around 22.5% for the United States, around 24.4% for Western Europe, around 18.8% for Japan and around 34.3% for other regions. Around 90% of the product is used to produce trimellitate plasticizers and powder coatings and 10% is used to produce other products.    The total capacity of TMA in China was already more than 56 thousand t/a in 2005. China has become one of the important TMA producers in the world. TMA in China is mainly used to produce powder coatings, resin curing agents, trimellitate plasticizers, polyimide insulation paints and modified alkyd resins. Small amounts are also used to produce cine film flocculating agents, airplane engine lube oil and sodium trimellitate anionic surfactants.

Trimellitate plasticizers: In the plasticizer sector TMA is mainly used to produce TOTM (trioctyl trimellitate) and the consumption of TMA in it was around 8 500 tons in 2004. With the development of the PVC electric wire/cable sector, the demand of TOTM will further increase in China. It is expected that the demand of TOTM will reach around 21 thousand tons in 2006 and the demand of TMA in this sector will be around 9.5 thousand tons.Powder coatings: Polyester resin produced with TMA as raw material can be blended with epoxy resin into powder coatings. Such powder coatings can be used in great quantities in the sectors with high requirements on decoration and corrosion resistance such as household electric appliances, bicycles and steel doors/windows. The output of powder coatings in China has increased rapidly in recent years and polyester/epoxy resin types account for around 80% of the total. The consumption of TMA was around 4.1 thousand tons in 2004. With the rapid development of light industry goods and household electric appliances, requirements on the output, type, specification and performance of coatings are much higher than before. It is expected that the demand of powder coatings in China will reach around 200 thousand tons in 2006 including around 150 thousand tons of polyester/epoxy resin types and the demand of TMA in this sector will be around 7 thousand tons.

Insulation paints: Polyimide paints, polyamide/imide paints and polyester/imide paints produced from TMA are mainly used as F-grade and H-grade motor insulation materials for anti-explosion electrodes, super heavy motors, air-conditioner motors and refrigerator motors. The consumption of TMA in insulation paints was around 1.5 thousand tons in 2004. With higher requirements on the anti-explosion property of motors, the demand of high-grade insulation materials with high-temperature resistance will maintain a rapid growth. It is expected that the demand of TMA in this sector will reach around 1.6 thousand tons in 2006.

Curing agents: TMA can be used to produce high-temperature epoxy resin curing agents. The consumption of TMA in curing agents was around 500 tons in 2004. It is expected that the demand of TMA in this sector will reach around 550 tons in 2006.

Modified alkyd resin: Alkyd resin paints modified by TMA have much better cross-linking degree, drying feature and hardness. They are new water-soluble coatings mainly used as electrophoretic painting primers for automobiles, refrigerators and washing machines. The consumption of TMA in modified alkyd resin was around 250 tons in 2004. It is expected that the demand of TMA in this sector will reach around 300 tons in 2006.

Others: TMA can also be used as cine film flocculating agent, airplane engine lube oil and sodium trimellitate anionic surfactant. The consumption of TMA in these fields was around 150 tons in 2004. It is expected that the demand of TMA in other sectors will have no great increase in future and it will reach around 200 tons in 2006.

   The total demand of TMA in China will therefore be around 19.2 thousand tons in 2006. Trimellitate plasticizers and powder coatings will still be major consumption sectors. The consumption proportion in trimellittate plasticizers will however have a gradual reduction whereas the consumption proportion in powder coatings will increase constantly.   The capacity of TMA in China has already reached 56 thousand t/a today. The total capacity of TMA is expected to be more than 65 thousand t/a in 2006. The consumption will however only be around 19.2 thousand tons at that time. If only the operating rate is around 30%, the domestic market demand will be satisfied. The capacity of TMA in China will be in serious surplus.