This techno-economic report reviews the chemistry, properties, technology, and development trends of Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC).  The report provides DMC economics for several different global locations (USGC, Western Europe, China, and Japan) under a consistent first quarter 2019 price scenario.  A regional market analysis is also included.

Polyesters are a family of materials made from a dicarboxylic acid and an alcohol with two or more hydroxy functionalities.  The alternating reaction of a carboxylic acid and a hydroxy group, called a condensation reaction, yields a polyester.  This report covers a number of specialty polyesters, including PETG, PTT, Copolyester (i.e. TRITAN) and a thermoplastic elastomeric polyester generically referred to as copolyester elastomer (COPE).   PET and PBT are covered in separate TECH reports; PETG, PTT and Copolyester were selected for coverage as they are the largest volume materials of the remaining materials.  COPE is covered due to its interesting properties and ongoing growth opportunities. 

Acetal polymers, also known as polyoxymethylene (POM) or polyacetal are formaldehyde-based thermoplastics that have been commercially available for about 60 years. Polyformaldehyde (the homopolymer of polyacetal) is a thermally unstable material that decomposes on heating to yield formaldehyde gas. Two methods of stabilizing polyformaldehyde for use as an engineering polymer were developed and introduced by DuPont in 1959 and Celanese in 1962. This report outlines the Chemistry, Process Technology, Economics and Commercial aspects associated with the polyacetals.

The process technologies and production economics for polypropylene (PP) are presented.  Gas phase and bulk processes from all major technology holders are reviewed.  Cost of production economics have been developed for USGC, China, and Middle East locations.  Demand by end-use, capacity, and supply/demand/trade data is provided on a global and tri-regional basis.

This report examines the technology, cost of production, environmental impacts & restrictions, and markets for the leading fluorocarbons that are widely utilized today, as well as the latest fluorocarbons that are being commercialized to replace legacy fluorocarbons that have negative environmental impacts.

Process technologies for the production of small scale methanol and DME are presented.  Coverage includes both commercial and developing small scale methanol and DME technologies.  Key drivers for the development of small scale plants, such as supporting local demand, feedstock availability and options, and potential use as a marine fuel are discussed.  Regional production economics for small scale methanol and DME technologies are included.  Global and regional supply, demand, and trade for methanol and DME are also provided.

Process technologies for the production of propylene are presented.  Coverage includes prevalent byproduct sources of propylene such as conventional fluid catalytic cracking as well as enhanced FCC technologies, steam cracking, and fractionation.  On-purpose propylene processes include propane dehydrogenation, methanol to olefins, methanol to propylene, and metathesis.  Production economics for byproduct and on-purpose propylene technologies are included on a USGC, Middle East, Western Europe, and China basis.  Global and regional supply, demand, and trade for propylene are also provided.

This report provides an updated overview of the technological, economic and market aspects of selected specialty styrenics, including ASA, MBS, MABS, SMMA.  Detailed cost of production estimates for various technologies are presented for USGC, China, Western Europe and Middle East.

The process technology and production economics for polyvinyl alcohol and its key raw material, vinyl acetate, are presented.  Comparative cost of production estimates are developed for the USGC, China (acetylene and ethylene-based), Japan, Taiwan, and Western Europe.  Global demand by application as well as tri-regional capacity and supply/demand/trade data is provided.

Thermal energy storage (TES) technologies and systems provide a major opportunity for better economic benefits and enhanced energy management.  This includes expected mismatches in supply and demand for cooling or heating requirements, thereby offsetting differences in time and magnitude of cooling or heating production.  TES can also jointly assist in harnessing and integrating “stranded” renewable power supply through possible co-location with distributed energy resources such as based on solar and wind energy.  This report provides an overview of the various developing and commercial TES technologies in the United States and includes a methodology for structuring the levelized cost of storage (LCOS).