CAPROLACTUM
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Caprolactam occurs as white, hygroscopic flakes or crystals with a distinctive odour. It is soluble in water, cyclohexane, chlorinated hydrocarbons and is usually used, stored and transported in liquefied form at about 80°C. In small amounts caprolactam are also used in cross-linking for polyurethanes and in the synthesis of lysine.
Physical Properties
| Description |
White, hygroscopic, crystalline solid or leaflets form |
| Molecular formula |
C6H11NO |
| Molecular weight |
113.16 g/mol |
| Density (water=1) |
1.02 |
| Boiling point |
267 oC |
| Melting point |
69-70 oC |
| Vapor pressure |
1.9 × 10-3 mm Hg at 25 °C |
TECHNOLOGY/PROCESS/FEEDSTOCK
TOLUENE PROCESS
In the toluene process (Snia Viscosa patents), toluene is oxidized to benzoic acid, which is in turn hydrogenated to hexahydrobenzoic acid. This material in turn is reacted with nitrosylsulfuric acid to make caprolactam.
STAMICARBON ROUTE
The Stamicarbon route involves the reaction of cyclohexanone with hydroxylamine phosphate to form cyclohexanone oxime which is converted to caprolactam via a Beckmann rearrangement.
NITRIC ACID REDUCTION PROCESS
In the nitric acid reduction process (BASF patents), cyclohexane is oxidized in the liquid phase by air. Nitric acid is oxidized with oxygen and then reduced to hydroxylamine to react with cyclohexanone to form the oxime, which is then converted to caprolactam by the Beckmann rearrangement. DSM and Honeywell (formerly Allied) have created a new process which recycles nylon 6 waste into caprolactam. A plant using this technology to recycle carpet into caprolactam began operations at Augusta, Georgia, and USA in 1999.
Sumitomo developed a new technology: gas-phase Beckman rearrangement with the use of its proprietary catalyst without co-producing ammonium sulfate. Using this new technology, a new plant with capacity of 65,000 tpa was started up at Ehime in 1Q 2003.
END USE
The major usages of caprolactam are in:
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Essentially all caprolactam is used in the manufacture of nylon 6 (65-70% of total global consumption).
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Plastics (25-30%). Caprolactam is also used in brush bristles, textile stiffeners, film coatings, synthetic leather, plastics, plasticizers, paint vehicles, cross-linking for polyurethanes, and in the synthesis of lysine.
INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
MAJOR INVESTMENTS
New Capacity Added
DSM Nanjing Chemical's 70,000 tons a year plant in China went on stream in October 2005.
New Project Investments.
Thailand
Thai Caprolactam Plc., a subsidiary of Thailand Ube Group, is expanding its 100,000 tons a year caprolactam unit by 30,000 tons/ year in 2008. The plant is located at Map Ta Phut, Rayong, Thailand
China
Yueyang Petrochemical Works' caprolactam plant designed to produce 70,000 tons a year is lined up to begin operations in the first half of 2006.
The YnFx Nylon Chain Report has them in the order of their capacities worldwide
The detailed Industry Structure and the Company names with capacity and % Share in the global market is available in the Nylon Chain Report by Yarnsandfibers.com
AN OVERVIEW
Global production of caprolactum crossed 4.0 million tons mark in 2005, valued closed to US$9 billion. In 2006, production is likely to hover around the 4 million tons mark. Demand for caprolactum in East Asia, including South Korea, Taiwan, and China, is likely to remain strong until 2008. China's demand has been expanding at an annual growth rate of 7.5% a year. With the rapidly growing Chinese market, the regional capacity utilization is likely to touch 95% by 2008 even with new plants and expansions. Demand in USA, Europe, and Japan is expected to grow 2-3%/year.
The future projections and country-wise demand for Caprolactum is covered in the Nylon Chain Report by Yarnsandfibers.com. You may also get a view of Table of Contents
The report also covers Various aspects in tabular as well as graphical form as shown below
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