SBR's Technical progress and prospects for the market

SBR is the most common synthetic rubber products, is also the first to realize the industrialized production of rubber. It is a styrene butadiene with the random copolymer. The physical properties of their bodies, process and performance of products using the performance close to natural rubber, some properties such as wear-resistant, heat-resistant, anti-aging and curing rate of natural rubber is more than good, with a variety of natural rubber and synthetic rubber used extensively Used tires, plastic, rubber hose, wire and cable, medical equipment and a variety of rubber production and other fields.

SBR is usually divided according to their methods of synthesis of emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (SBR together referred to as milk, ESBR) and the solution polymerization styrene butadiene rubber (referred to as SSBR, SSBR), styrene-butadiene rubber is a milk-free radicals Polymerization, since industrial production, has had its heyday, mature production technology, product quality, brand varieties complete. SSBR using anionic polymerization activity, with a narrow molecular weight distribution, cis-high, excellent wear-resistance, small rolling resistance, to address the presence of butadiene rubber anti-slippery bad, is the ideal tire rubber surface Material. Its development is in a steady increase in the stage.

First, the synthesis of styrene-butadiene rubber technology

1.1-styrene-butadiene rubber milk synthesis technology

ESBR production technology in the late maturity of 20, after which they carried out a process of continuous improvement and to work towards the direction of large-scale development, the level of automation has improved and has reached a very advanced level.

ESBR in improving the polymerization of monomer conversion, saving energy and reducing consumption in areas such as progress has been made in resolving the ESBR rolling resistance and anti-slippery properties contradictory problems and optimize performance, adapt to market demand, and so on have also been a breakthrough Progress.

U.S. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company does not use solvents, used to contain anti-degradation agent, metal inactivation agent, photosensitizer, synergist, pigments, catalysts and / or the functional promoter of styrene and containing 2% -3% ions on the surface Active agents of peaceful coexistence 0% -70% of the plasticizer 0-25 ℃ in the butadiene under copolymer emulsion, a system that contains the aroylamino-functionalized ESBR. Japan's Zeon through the introduction of the third monomer, developed a low heat and wear-resistant, can be filled with carbon black or SiO2, Mooney viscosity 10-200 for the ESBR.

Japan's JSR invented by a two-step polymerization processes in the production of styrene content of the new method of ESBR. Xerox Corporation, through the United States will join the single polymerizer, initiated polymerization reaction after the heat with inert gas purification reactor, and polymerization temperature rose to the provisions of the value of the method of making a low residual monomer content of ESBR. Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd. with free radical initiator and conventional emulsion agent, made a two-step process polymerization of styrene combined with a wide range of content distribution, wear resistance and anti-slippery nature of conventional ESBR better than the new ESBR. Japan's Lion with the dual dual-acid ester for the ESBR softeners to improve the low temperature of the rubber-holding. Japan's Sumitomo Rubber Industries to graft a silane coupling agent of SBR latex and a compound (such as four-triethoxysilane) mixed through the sol-gel reaction and made of a high-intensity, high rate of rebound, The low power enhanced in situ ESBR.

1.2 at home and abroad SSBR synthesis technology

By the late 20th century, 50, the United States Philips adoption of a lithium polymer anion lead to the successful development of the SSBR, and in 1964 achieved the industrial production. SSBR commonly used for industrial production of alkyl lithium, and is based on BuLi as initiator or the use of paraffin cycloalkanes for solvents, alcohol for the termination of the agent, no agent for THF. However, due to poor performance SSBR processing, the application has not been faster. The late 70s, the tire is demanding higher and higher on the structure and properties of rubber is also a higher demand, combined with polymer technology to enable faster SSBR.

In the early 1980s, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands Duniop company Shell companies through the design polymer technology to develop new low-rolling-resistance SSBR products. Dutch Shell's login and Tire & P companies to jointly develop a new type of product SSBR, Japan Synthetic Rubber Company and Bridgestone Corporation to jointly develop a new type of tin-coupled SSBR such as SSBR second-generation product, which marks the SSBR production technology has entered a New stage.

China's development SSBR late 1982 Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Corporation Research Institute of n-butyl lithium - tetrahydrofuran - the system of cyclohexane and styrene butadiene copolymer had a small pilot study in 1984 conducted a amplification testing, 1989 Developed a new type of energy-saving SSBR, 1kt level of the successful development of the plant, in 1996 Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Corporation to develop the success of 10kt class SSBR line with the relevant authorities to cooperate in automobile tires, bicycle tires, rubber shoes, sundries and modified bitumen Have been carried out in areas such as applied research. Beijing Rubber Industry Research and Design Institute SSBR of the basic physical properties, processing and evaluation of the performance of the tire tread formula, and so on were studied.

At present, SSBR has been developed to a third-generation, I would have been the developed countries started to look into the fifth generation and even fourth-generation SSBR. China's production and SSBR still at the first and second, also need to be further in-depth research, development of new varieties to increase the technological content.

China's 1.3 SBR the development of new technologies

In recent years, China carried out a number of styrene-butadiene rubber research and development and technology reform, Dalian University of Technology Institute of Chemical Technology and Research Institute of Yanshan Petrochemical to n-butyl lithium initiator for the synthesis of butadiene - styrene block copolymer II, the copolymer SSBR with the general, not only has good mechanical properties and at the same time have low rolling resistance and high-performance anti-slippery; In addition, by using lithium-n-DVB and synthesis of more off-chelating agent SnCl4 such as the synthesis and coupling agent with a wide molecular weight distribution, high Mooney viscosity of SSBR, and the use of wet oil-filled system had excellent mechanical properties of the oil-filled SBR. Lanzhou Petrochemical Corporation, Sinopec Research Institute to develop a styrene-butadiene rubber powder preparation technology and the realization of a pilot magnification, the 200t / a scale of the test proved that the pool of technical process smooth, easy-to-process control, product performance and stability, repeatability , Is the first domestic technology used in modified asphalt, the mixing process with a simple, easy to spread, bituminous to improve the performance of low-temperature characteristics, and styrene butadiene rubber powder filled a gap in the field of modified asphalt.

In addition, Shandong Qilu Petrochemical Corporation, the successful development of the rubber factory environment-friendly new generation of styrene-butadiene rubber, the product has been reached similar products in the European environmental standards. On its trial production capacity of 360 tons, the production test to be completed after the date of production capacity will reach 500 tons, experts believe that environmental protection to promote the advent of the SBR rubber products industry, environmental protection is of great significance.

Second, the development of the situation analysis of styrene-butadiene rubber

1, styrene-butadiene rubber production capacity profile

According to the world of synthetic rubber producers estimated that the 2002 World styrene-butadiene rubber production capacity of 4,558,000 tons, of which breast-styrene-butadiene rubber production capacity of 3,540,000 tons / year. At present, the world has been more than 30 sets of SSBR plant, with a total production capacity of more than 1,000,000 tons / year. Over the past decade, Europe and the United States breast-styrene-butadiene rubber plant to over-capacity, low capacity utilization, and SSBR devices while operating rate of 80%.

6 sets of our existing SBR plant, 4 sets of equipment for the production of ESBR, 2 sets to devices SSBR production, with a total production capacity of 410,000 tons / year. Although SSBR percentage of production capacity of nearly 21.4 percent, but because of the quality of products, brands and production technology, and many other reasons, the possession of a small domestic market share, operating rate has been low. 2, the SBR consumption

SBR is one of the world's largest middle class consumption of SR species in the world consumption of SBR, about 75% of the tires and tire accessories for the past 20 years, SBR consumption ratio continued to drop. This is the main reason for the rate of increase in the radial tire, SBR in the radial tire in the small amount of other kinds of plastic growth, with the NR price competition. SBR is currently the world's production capacity in the 4,500,000 tons / year or so, demand in the 2,800,000 tons / year or so, a serious surplus production capacity, the installation of an average operating rate of 58%. ESBR concentrated in the application of automobile tires, hose, belt, the footwear industry and other fields. SSBR still in the stage of market development, mainly for the footwear industry in China has not yet officially used tires. With the development of the auto industry, tire will be rapid development, and tire rubber used mainly for SSBR. 2000 radial tire production capacity of up to 105,000,000. Radial tire production in 2010 will be 177,000,000. Therefore, both on the low rolling resistance and high wear resistance and anti-slippery second-generation SSBR in the tire manufacturing demand will further increase. In different countries and regions, SBR's consumption structure different.

In January 2002 to July consumption of SBR in China amounted to 315,000 tons over the same period in 2001 grew 25.8 percent, the fastest growth in recent years for the period, while domestic sales of SBR for 190,000 tons, increased by only 6.0 percent year-on-year. Much lower than the growth in consumption, while the market share in 2001 from the same period dropped 71.8 percent to 60.5 percent, the lowest in recent years. However, due to the export and export-led, rubber processing industry to accelerate growth, the major NR producing countries to agree plastic, to reduce the production, export control, plus the weather condition, the South-East Asia to reduce the production of NR, SBR boosted consumption.

With the development of the automobile industry, rubber consumption increasing, the proportion of the use of synthetic rubber increased year by year due to the continuous improvement of our road and highway development, and also improve the speed, so that the safety performance of the tires set higher Requirements, as a result of the increasing shortage of oil resources and prices, oil is a very important issue, thus promoting the rapid development of SSBR.

3, the price situation

Since the 1996 World SBR prices continue to fall in the second half of 1999 to SBR in the first half of 2000, overall prices continued to rise, but the influence of various factors, half-way down Change. In 2001, global economic recession, OPEC oil get a full year average price was 23.12 U.S. dollars / barrel, compared to 2000's 27.6 U.S. dollars / barrel down 4.48 U.S. dollars / barrel, crude oil prices led to the fall of the upper reaches of the raw materials styrene, D Diene prices, so that the SBR the international market as a result of the loss of support and the emergence of synchronized downturn. In 2002 due to rising oil prices, driven up the price of international SBR. In addition, the SR of supply exceeding demand in the world, NR output increase, the Southeast Asian financial crisis broke out, but also resulted in lower prices.

From 1994 to 1995, as the SR in the international market prices, so as to the domestic tire industry as represented by downstream industries and the rapid development of related industries, SBR demand, the market very active. Since then, a large number of foreign products into our country, together with some new, one after another device into production, supply, formed a situation of supply exceeding demand, causing prices fall SBR. Followed by the beginning of China's economic structural adjustment, market decline, coupled with the financial crisis in Southeast Asia, the impact of floods, as well as a large number of stocks and other reasons. SBR, the average price dropped to 7600 yuan / ton, in the second half of 1998, the state has taken to strengthen the supervision of the Customs and Excise Department to increase efforts to crack down on smuggling, and other measures to reduce the imports of SBR, at the same time, the state also issued a series of measures to promote economic growth, The implementation of more pro-active fiscal policy, to start domestic demand, a significant increase in fixed asset investment, industrial growth has increased, the SR had a positive impact on the industry, SBR prices steady, while China's imports of SBR for the anti-dumping and Success, which to some extent by domestic enterprises to create more room for the market. SBR prices have been high, as the Spring Festival approaching, the market traded SBR markedly effective domestic light, in anticipation of the demand will continue to decline, traders and end users do not have to show more interest in procurement, price slightly in some areas Down there. Non-traded Wang market, abundant resources, markets, the recent domestic SBR is expected to decline in the market as a whole, market prices will steadily decline, some traders believe that after the Chinese New Year, with the lower reaches of the resumption of production will be purchasing a peak of styrene butadiene rubber market As the raw materials market and started to adjust the amplitude, will try for up resistance. But the lack of need for styrene-butadiene market situation continues to dominate the market.

4, market analysis and forecast

In 2003, China's apparent consumption of styrene butadiene rubber to 559,300 tons, with basically the same as in 2002, this does not mean domestic styrene butadiene rubber market has been saturated, but in a variety of conditions to form an outward look of a.

SBR-milk, after more than a decade and SSBR against the show still has strong vitality. In recent years, particularly in some foreign companies to increase milk styrene butadiene rubber-performance integrated research breakthrough has been made, such as the United States Goodyear from 2002 to 2003 in the United States, Europe, Japan and China's public companies raised in the patent, using The new milk-SBR system must process the milk for the preparation of styrene butadiene rubber-tire performance is better than SSBR. North America in 2001 to reduce consumption of milk-SBR 4.7 percent, according to IISRP forecast in the next few years, North America's consumption of milk-SBR recovery will be an average annual growth rate of 1%.

According to the international synthetic rubber producers 2000-2001 forecast-2005 global rubber consumption growth rate of 2.6 percent, by 2005 the world's total rubber consumption will reach 17,416,000 tons. Synthetic rubber consumption growth rate is estimated to be 3.5 percent, to the 2005 consumption of 9,415,000 tons, excluding TPE carboxyl and SBR latex. Synthetic consumption is expected to be the fastest-growing in our country and the Commonwealth of Independent States, were 12.2 percent and 5.8 percent. Expected the fastest-growing types of plastic are ethylene-propylene rubber, a growth rate of 3.7 percent, followed by SBR. However, China's automobile, industrial tires and other rubber processing industry in terms of development, IISRP on China's consumption of synthetic rubber, some conservative forecast. According to incomplete statistics, China in 2005 is expected to add production capacity radial 70,000,000; countries of the Three Gorges Project is being implemented, the South-North Water Diversion Project, West-East Gas Transmission Project and the Beijing Olympic Games with a total investment of 1,000,000,000,000 yuan, which will Fetal hose and a variety of works, tape a tremendous potential market. In addition, the footwear and other rubber products in the field of application of styrene-butadiene rubber demand will be greater growth in demand for styrene-butadiene rubber in 2005 is expected to reach 630,000 -64 10,000 tons with an average annual growth rate of more than 5%.

With China's accession to the WTO, tariffs on car imports to reduce the domestic automobile and tire industry will be faced with greater challenges, in particular by the world economic downturn, China's tire and rubber manufacturing exports more difficult and may lead to SBR consumption growth slowed, but in the long run, the SBR domestic market will remain a large proportion of growth. At the same time, along with foreign-funded enterprises in China, as well as to increase the scale of investment in China's automobile industry and the development of highways, high-performance tires will be a gradual increase in demand, in particular, "tax reform" policy, SSBR for tires Energy conservation, safety, comfort features will be more attention and favor. Foreign-funded enterprises will also according to the needs of the market in the formula used in tire SSBR, such as Dalian Goodyear plans to invest 5 years 120,000,000 U.S. dollars of its radial tire production capacity from 1,900,000 to the capacity expansion of 5,300,000, with the main part of the capacity expansion In the production of high-performance tires. This will make domestic demand SSBR reach 70,000 tons. The general trend is that SSBR will gradually become the focus of the development of styrene-butadiene rubber.

Third, development proposals

An appropriately-styrene butadiene rubber to increase milk production

Although SSBR (SSBR) is a relatively ESBR high-performance synthetic rubber, but it can not be equated with ESBR, can not be completely replaced by ESBR. At present, oil-filled ESBR branded products in the amount of the average level of developed countries, less than 1 / 3 on domestic oil-filled SBR is still a certain degree of market capacity. From the foreseeable future market trends, as a result of the international bid higher than that of styrene butadiene, styrene less consumption of oil-filled brand of products is relatively favorable, combined with the average transaction price of styrene butadiene rubber domestic and international oil-filled styrene-butadiene Rubber offer closer to an increase of rubber processing enterprises under the same conditions preferred the tendency of domestic oil-filled SBR. And domestic enterprises should also be in the top grade products and increase research efforts to improve the product brand, increase the technological content of products.

2, to strengthen the middle and lower reaches of the optimization of the co-operation to reduce product costs

On the upper reaches of the chemical through the optimization of light oil production, transportation and deployment, lower operating costs to reduce butadiene, styrene, styrene butadiene rubber filled with oil, the basic raw material costs. Production of styrene-butadiene rubber plant should be operating by optimizing the process, aimed at raising the yield of products, energy conservation, reducing consumption to reduce the domestic styrene butadiene rubber production costs.

3, to create a favorable policy environment

With the "WTO" and change the functions of the government agencies, government regulation of the objective requirements of macro-economic policy and regulation are difficult to grow, taking into account the strategic position of styrene-butadiene rubber industry in China and styrene butadiene rubber production, processing industry of the status quo, suggested that the state The relevant functional departments, in accordance with international practice to develop the corresponding countermeasures (such as anti-dumping), at the same time further to strictly regulate the feed processing and management of border trade and strengthen anti-smuggling efforts, in order to increase the market share of the domestic styrene butadiene rubber to provide a good policy environment .