The global plastic antioxidants market size is estimated to be USD 2.0 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 2.6 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period. Factors such as plastics replacing conventional materials, increasing demand in medical industry, and rapid urbanization in developing countries will drive the plastic antioxidants market. The major restraint for the market will be adverse effect on health from synthetic plastics antioxidants. However, the untapped demand in the agricultural sector of developing countries will act as an opportunity for the market.
Based on type, the most commonly used plastic antioxidants are phenolic, phosphite & phosphonite, antioxidants blends, and others. Antioxidants are classified on the basis of their ability to interrupt the overall oxidation process. Chain breaking and preventive mechanisms are the two major antioxidant mechanisms that interfere with polymer oxidation cycles. The two classes of antioxidants identified are chain-breaking or primary antioxidants and preventive or secondary antioxidants. Primary antioxidants react rapidly and are, therefore, referred to as radical scavengers. Phenolic antioxidants are primary antioxidants, which interfere with chain propagation by terminating the free radical. They are used for plastics or polymer systems that are sensitive to thermal and oxidative degradation due to the formation of peroxides and free radicals. Phenolic antioxidants protect plastics or other polymers against degradation and oxidation at high processing temperatures.
Asia Pacific dominated the plastic antioxidants market in 2019, It is also projected to witness the highest CAGR between 2020 and 2025. The growing population and increasing disposable income in countries such as China and India are fueling the growth of the building & construction, packaging, automotive, and other industries in Asia Pacific, thereby driving the plastics and consequently plastic antioxidants market.
The key market players profiled in the report include BASF SE (Germany), Songwon (South Korea), Adeka Corporation (Japan), Solvay (Belgium), SK Capital (US), Clariant (Switzerland), Sumitomo Chemical (Japan), 3V Sigma S.p.A (Italy), and Dover Chemical Corporation (US).
