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Farewell to the Antimony Crisis: Halogen-Free Flame Retardant Technology Leads a New Industry Revolution

Clariant China 2025-09-15 10:12:33

In today's highly interconnected manufacturing world, supply chain disruptions can pose systemic risks to the entire production system. Currently, the soaring costs and unstable supply of the key flame retardant synergist antimony trioxide are creating dual pressures for manufacturers, making the search for reliable alternatives an urgent priority.

Challenges in the Antimony Trioxide Supply Chain

In just the past year, the price of antimony trioxide has surged by 400%.According to Fastmarkets' market analysis in July 2024, the market has experienced "the most dramatic price surge in the history of the antimony market since prices have been tracked starting from the early 1980s." By early 2025, prices had risen to $51,500 per ton, placing significant cost pressure on manufacturers reliant on this material.

This dramatic price fluctuation mainly stems from changes in the global supply structure and trends in the management of strategic resources worldwide, prompting the global industrial chain to explore alternative technological solutions.

On one hand, approximately 75-80% of the global antimony trioxide production is concentrated in China. China's main antimony production regions have adjusted their production plans due to stricter environmental regulations. At the same time, the depletion of mine reserves and issues with raw material quality have also limited the growth of production capacity.

On the other hand, antimony, due to its significant value in flame retardants, batteries, semiconductors, and defense applications, is regarded by many countries as a critical strategic resource, with global demand continuously rising. China has implemented more regulated export management systems for key minerals such as germanium, gallium, and antimony to promote the rational development and utilization of resources and the orderly development of the industry.

The chain reaction of the surge in antimony prices.

This supply chain crisis has affected numerous industries, with a particularly significant impact on the electronics manufacturing, automotive applications, and construction materials sectors. These industries must strictly adhere to the baseline requirements for flame-retardant safety and regulatory compliance.The combination of brominated flame retardants and antimony trioxide is used in electronic products, transportation components, and plastics for construction.。

First is the sharp increase in direct costs. As a synergist for brominated flame retardants, antimony trioxide typically accounts for 2-4% of the flame-retardant plastic formulation. The price quadrupling directly leads to a significant rise in production costs, thereby squeezing corporate profits or forcing price increases in downstream products.

Secondly, there is the uncertainty of material supply. Dramatic fluctuations in key raw materials make production planning extremely difficult, forcing manufacturers to either tie up working capital in increased inventory or risk production interruptions.

Unique Advantages Based on Phosphorus Technology

Phosphorus-based #flame retardant technology provides a new pathway for the industry.Clariant's Exolit™ OP innovative halogen-free flame retardant solutions, invented and patented by Clariant, not only address current supply chain challenges but also offer numerous additional advantages. They have been widely recognized in engineering plastics such as polyamides and polyesters, as well as in certain epoxy-based thermoset applications.

"The current volatile market for antimony trioxide presents a situation of both challenges and opportunities for manufacturers."Adrian Beard, Head of Marketing and Advocacy for Flame Retardants at Clariant Additives."Addressing the current supply chain challenges will drive companies to shift towards phosphorus-based technologies, which not only offer superior flame retardant performance but also bring significant environmental benefits. This is not only a stopgap solution to the immediate issues but also a long-term strategy for building greater resilience for the future."

Unlike traditional systems that rely on a combination of brominated flame retardants and antimony trioxide,Exolit™ OP works through a completely different flame retardant mechanism. It not only suppresses chemical reactions in the flame zone in the gas phase, but the phosphorus-based chemical components also form a protective char layer during combustion, effectively isolating the underlying material from contact with oxygen and heat.This innovative method has been scientifically validated through independent research.

The EU's ENFIRO project (Life Cycle Assessment of Environmentally Compatible Flame Retardants) brought together 12 research institutions to conduct a comprehensive study on 15 commercialized non-halogenated flame retardants.The results show that halogen-free solutions like Exolit™ OP "provide fire protection performance and technical application capabilities comparable to brominated flame retardants, while generating less smoke and fewer harmful components in the smoke."

The notable advantages of sustainable development.

Although the current cost pressures and supply instability may be the immediate drivers for companies to consider alternatives, phosphorus-based flame retardants offer greater long-term value due to their outstanding environmental performance.

In a lifecycle assessment published in February 2024, the research team at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT) compared phosphinate-based flame retardants with brominated alternatives. The study, titled "Towards #Sustainable Fire Safety: Lifecycle Assessment of Phosphinate and Brominated Flame Retardants in Electric Vehicles and Electronic Devices," found that phosphorus-based solutions have significant environmental advantages.

As a phosphorus-based and completely halogen-free flame retardant,Exolit™ OP offers an advanced, more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional brominated flame retardants.Especially in compliance with increasingly stringent chemical safety regulations and the strong demand from consumers for environmentally friendly products.

It produces during the combustion process.Less smokeThis not only reduces the environmental impact of fire incidents but also enhances visibility and personnel safety during evacuation processes. Additionally, for manufacturers concerned about the long-term performance of materials,Exolit™ OP maintains its excellent flame retardancy even after multiple mechanical recycling cycles, providing significant value to the #CircularEconomy.

Outstanding advantages in performance

In addition to addressing supply chain vulnerabilities and enhancing environmental benefits, phosphorus-based flame retardants also possess significant performance advantages, making them an ideal choice unaffected by fluctuations in the antimony market. Compared to brominated systems containing antimony trioxide,Exolit™ OP flame retardants typically achieve the same effect with a lower dosage.

In addition, phosphorus-based flame retardants have a lower density and are able toProduce lighter components without compromising flame retardant protection....is more conducive to lightweight design.

The best time to switch to halogen-free flame retardants.

The current volatility in the antimony trioxide market is prompting the industry to reassess its flame retardant strategies.Using phosphorus-based innovative alternatives such as Exolit™ OP,Not only can it address current cost and supply challenges, but it can also achieve improvements in both environmental impact and performance.

This transformation is highly aligned with the major trends in industry development. Driven by the miniaturization of electronic and electrical products, the widespread application of lightweight materials in automobiles, and the evolving demands of mobile transportation, the demand for environmentally friendly flame-retardant solutions continues to grow.The technological path beyond antimony can maintain or even enhance performance and safety standards while establishing a more resilient production system that reduces dependence on highly volatile raw materials.Exolit™ OP is supplied sufficiently worldwide, with production facilities located in both Germany and China.

Suggestions for Implementing a Smooth Transition

For manufacturers considering a transition from traditional antimony-based flame retardant systems, it is important to note that although phosphorus-based flame retardants offer excellent performance, they are not a simple "plug-and-play" replacement. When adopting new flame retardant systems, it often requires fine-tuning of formulations and thorough evaluation and testing. Professional technical support is crucial to meet specific application needs.

Image: Daniel Maga, Adrian Beard, and Venkat Aryan, authors of the Fraunhofer UMSICHT life cycle assessment study, showing the key stages of the product life cycle from phosphate ore to electric vehicle electrical connectors.

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Farewell to the Antimony Crisis: Halogen-Free Flame Retardant Technology Leads a New Industry Revolution

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