Polycarbonate: Feedstocks
Mostly BPA by weight, so phenol sets cost
What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.PC is mostly BPA by weight, so its cost follows phenol and acetone, and through them benzene and propylene. The carbonate part comes from phosgene (carbon monoxide and chlorine) or from diphenyl carbonate. Integration from cumene through BPA to PC, and cheap chlorine or captive phosgene from MDI plants, gives the lowest costs.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bisphenol A (chemical tile: bisphenol_a) | about 0.9 t per t PC (stoichiometric) | monomer backbone | about 70-75% of cash cost (indicative) | indicative; BPA tile |
| Phosgene (from carbon monoxide and chlorine; chemical tile: chlorine) | about 0.39 t phosgene, about 0.28 t chlorine (stoichiometric, interfacial route) | carbonate linkage | about 10% (indicative) | stoichiometric; indicative |
| Diphenyl carbonate (melt route) | about 0.84 t, with phenol recovered (stoichiometric) | carbonate linkage | about 15% net (indicative) | indicative |
| Oil Crude oil | indirect | carbon backbone | included above | indicative |
| NaCl Salt | indirect | chlorine for phosgene; caustic for interfacial reaction | small | indicative |
Who is low-cost, and why
Integrated Chinese producers with captive phenol, BPA and phosgene (Wanhua, ZPC, Hengli) and SABIC with Saudi feed are lowest cost. Covestro is integrated but carries European energy costs. Stand-alone PC plants buying BPA are highest cost and have closed first.