Resumen de Flame retardants continue to fire demand for MDH
Magnesium hydroxide (MDH) is one of the principal compounds used in this industry. The majority of MDH is made by adding water to caustic calcined magnesia (CCM), but can also be manufactured as a by-product of synthetic magnesia production; from brucite or huntite/hydromagnesite.
"We are expecting 6.6% per annum growth for MDH flame retardants worldwide to 2019, driven largely by increased demand for polypropylene and polyamide - the main polymers that have to use MDH rather than ATH, because MDH has better thermal stability," [Kerry Satterthwaite] told IM.
According to Roskill, markets for synthetic MDH can be divided into three main categories. Material derived from seawater or brine is used mainly for wastewater treatment and other environmental applications; material derived from serpentine or magnesite is principally consumed in the manufacture of flame retardants and high purity grades of magnesium hydroxide; and thirdly, MDH derived from a variety of sources including magnesite, brines and seawater is used in relatively small amounts in pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs.
