MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone)

*Millions of pounds per year of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), or 4-methyl-2-pentanone. More than 60 percent of MIBK production comes from aldol condensation of acetone and derivative intermediates diacetone alcohol and mesityl oxide. Some producers recover a small amount of methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC). MIBK may also be produced from isopropanol in a mixed ketones process, with diisobutyl ketone (DIBK) and acetone as coproducts. Capacities are approximate and may vary because some of the equipment used in the manufacture of MIBK can be used for other ketones as well.

In 2003, Shell Chemical added about 55 million pounds of capacity to its C6 solvents plants, including methyl isobutyl ketone, isopropyl alcohol, methyl isobutyl carbinol, diacetone alcohol and hexylene glycol, at Deer Park , Tex.

Profile last published 3/8/99 ; this revision, 2/23/04 .

DEMAND

2001: 146 million pounds; 2002: 147 million pounds; 2006: 147 million pounds, projected. Demand equals production plus imports (2001: 26 million pounds; 2002: 32 million pounds) less exports (2001: 47 million pounds; 2002: 53 million pounds).

GROWTH

Historical (1997 - 2002): 0 percent per year; future: 0 percent per year through 2006.

PRICE

Historical (1997 - 2002): High, $0.73 per pound, bulk, dlvd. E.; low, $0.63 per pound, same basis. Current: $0.77 per pound ( March 1, 2004 ), same basis.

USES

Coatings solvent (nitrocellulose, vinyl and acrylic), 54 percent; rubber antiozonants, 23 percent; acetylenic surfactants, 11 percent; solvent extraction, 6 percent; miscellaneous, 6 percent.

STRENGTH

MIBK is used as a raw material in the manufacture of rubber antiozonants, mainly N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N¢-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD). U.S. consumption of substituted p-phenylenediamines was about 100 million pounds in 2002; 6PPD is the largest-volume substituted p-phenylenediamine. It is used to protect diene rubbers such as natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber and nitrile-butadiene rubber. Diene rubbers have high levels of unsaturation and are therefore vulnerable to ozone attack, particularly when exposed to atmospheric ozone while being stressed by flexing and bending, which leads to surface cracking. Typical products that incorporate 6PPD include tires, belts and hoses. MIBK consumption for this application is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.2 percent during the forecast period.

WEAKNESS

MIBK’s largest application area is as a solvent for surface coatings, primarily nitrocellulose lacquers and solventborne vinyl, alkyd, epoxy, urethane and acrylic coatings. Currently, MIBK is listed as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP), and some users have switched to acetate esters, which are non-HAPs. Recent efforts by industry associations to delist MIBK have not yet been successful. MIBK will likely be subject to further restrictions in coming years. Although classified as a VOC (volatile organic compound), MIBK continues to benefit from increased demand in high-solids coatings. However, in the long term, use of all solvent-borne coatings is expected to decrease.

OUTLOOK

Short term MIBK demand growth is expected to stagnant as declining solvent applications offset its growth in manufacturing rubber chemicals. Longer term MIBK will probably decline in absolute demand as environmental regulations encourage surface coating formulators to find replacements for HAP and VOC solvents. For the forecast period, growth is estimated to be 0 percent.

HISTORICAL DATA