Polymer additives: Feedstocks
From phenol to tin: what additives are made of
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.Additives are made from petrochemical building blocks such as phenol, isobutylene, phosphorus trichloride, acetone and fatty acids, plus metals for PVC stabilisers. Feedstock is a moderate share of cost; synthesis steps, registration and qualification drive price.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Crude oil | not published | antioxidant backbones | not published | chem_master feeds |
| Sn Tin | not published | PVC heat stabiliser | large for organotins | tin tile |
| Zn Zinc | not published | Ca-Zn stabilisers | not published | indicative |
| P Phosphate rock | not published | phosphite antioxidants | not published | indicative |
| PO Palm oil | not published | metal soaps, slip agents | not published | indicative |
Who is low-cost, and why
Chinese producers with new, large plants and cheaper energy are lowest cost for standard antioxidants; Western producers defend specialty light stabilisers and blends.
Raw materials on the commodity table
Oil Crude oilSn TinWhat it is made into
| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| LLDPE Polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE) | antioxidants |
| PP Polypropylene | antioxidants, clarifiers |
| PVC PVC | heat stabilisers, processing aids |