锡酸锌,羟基锡酸锌

锡酸锌和羟基锡酸锌在大多数聚合物中具有极其良好的阻燃消烟性能，特别是在抑制烟雾的毒性方面有着上佳的表现。有利于保护环境，是很好的安全环保型锡基阻 燃添加剂，且对基质材料不发生退色作用，能保持较好的物理性能。主要是作为卤代聚合物配方中的三氧化二锑的替代物，用于陶瓷电容器、电解体的配料和作为新 型锡基无毒阻燃添加剂应用于有机聚合物的生产上。其优点如下：
① 无毒、安全、容易操作；
② 具有阻燃作用和烟雾抑制作用；
③ 添加剂量少，性能好；
④ 与卤素和填充剂有良好的协同效果；
⑤ 颜料适配性无限制；
⑥ 应用领域广泛。
研究证明锡酸锌这种新型阻燃剂，其阻燃效果是最优异的。随着国家现代化建筑及工业的迅速发展，由于锡酸锌在阻燃及消烟方面的优越性能以及无毒的性 质发必将使其在国内外的需求量与日俱增。预计锡酸锌、羟基锡酸锌等几种同效产品在90年代末期可使锡的实际消费量增长到达3500～4000吨。据专家预 测至2002年锡酸锌的市场容量约为7000吨。
锡酸锌在世界范围内发展很快，根据市场调查(欧洲阻燃剂化工市场Frost & Sullivan1997)结果表明，近年来锡酸锌/羟基锡酸锌在欧洲市场消耗量已超过1500吨/年，并以每年10%以上的速度增长。据分析和预测，锡 基阻燃剂在世界其它地区也同欧洲市场一样将会有一个显著的增长，特别是美国和日本。美国年消耗三氧化二锑阻燃剂2.1～2.5万吨。若按三分之二的三氧化 二锑逐步被锡基阻燃剂代替(其阻燃效率为三氧化二锑的2倍)测算，在美国市场锡基阻燃剂市场容量大约是8000吨/年。按此计算，日本市场锡基阻燃剂市场 容量大约是3000吨/年，其它国家的市场容量大约是5000吨/年。我国目前用于阻燃添加剂的三氧化二锑大约是6000吨/年，按三分之一的用量被锡基 阻燃添加剂所代替，国内市场近期也有近1000吨/年的容量，随着国家对环保的日益重视，安全环保型阻燃剂的需求量将迅速增加，其在国内远景容量大约是 3000吨/年。

Zinc Hydroxystannate ZHS

Zinc Hydroxystannate ZHS

General Analysis:
Tin (Sn): 41.5 +/- 1.0%
Zinc (Zn): 23.0 +/- 1.0%
Appearance: White powder

Applications:

• Flame retardant and smoke suppressant
• Rigid and flexible PVC, Polyester resins, Alkyd resin paints, PVC plastisol coatings
• Chlorinated rubbers, Polyamides, Epoxy resins and EVA co polymer

Packaging Options:

• 25 kg bags
• Special packaging upon request

Zinc stannate/zinc hydroxystannate heat-stabilized chloropolymers

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to novel compositions of matter based on chlorine-containing polymer and comprising an effective stabilizing amount of a zinc stannate and/or zinc hydroxystannate.

This invention also relates to the use of the zinc stannates and/or zinc hydroxystannates as heat stabilizers for chlorine-containing polymers.

The chlorine-containing polymers to which the present invention relates are, in particular, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), which is the most significant commercially; poly(vinylidene chloride); copolymers predominantly comprised of vinyl chloride recurring units prepared from vinyl chloride and other monomers copolymerizable therewith; and mixtures of polymers or copolymers, a predominant proportion of which is derived from vinyl chloride.

In general, any type of PVC is suitable, whatever the process for the preparation thereof - bulk polymerization, suspension polymerization, dispersion polymerization or any other type--and whatever its intrinsic viscosity.

The homopolymers of vinyl chloride may also be chemically modified, for example by chlorination.

Numerous copolymers of vinyl chloride may also be stabilized against the adverse effects of heat, namely, yellowing and degradation. These are, notably, the copolymers prepared by copolymerization of vinyl chloride with other olefinically unsaturated comonomers copolymerizable therewith, such as, for example, vinyl acetate or vinylidene chloride; maleic or fumaric acids or their esters; olefins, such as ethylene, propylene and hexane; acrylic or methacrylic esters; styrene; and vinyl ethers such as vinyl dodecyl ether.

These copolymers typically contain at least 50% by weight of vinyl chloride recurring units and preferably at least 80% by weight of vinyl chloride recurring units.

The compositions according to the invention may also comprise mixtures based on chlorine-containing polymers containing minor amounts of other polymers, such as halogenated polyolefins or acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymers.

PVC, whether alone or in admixture with other polymers, is the primary chlorine-containing polymer comprising the compositions of the present invention.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to this art that the conversion of chlorine-containing polymers, and more particularly of PVC, at elevated temperatures cannot be accomplished without the addition of heat stabilizers thereto.

Indeed, if the chlorine-containing polymer is heated to processing temperatures, objectionable coloration appears which alter its appearance, an important characteristic for numerous applications.

This disadvantage is overcome by incorporating therein stabilizers essentially consisting of metal or organometallic compounds adopted, in particular, to absorb the hydrochloric acid produced by the degradation of the polymer.

These heat stabilizers are essentially organic derivatives of zinc or cadmium in combination with organic derivatives of calcium, barium or magnesium.

They may be accompanied by other compounds, typically designated "costabilizers" or "secondary stabilizers", the purpose of which is to supplement and intensify their effect, in particular as regards the appearance characteristics of the final product.

This is the case with mixed metal systems based on derivatives of cadmium and barium, or of zinc and barium, or of zinc and calcium, which have to be accompanied by costabilizers such as epoxide compounds, organic phosphites, dihydropyridines and/or betadiketones.

Among these metal systems, those which include cadmium derivatives are becoming less and less used, because of the deleterious effects of cadmium.

The formulations of chlorine-containing polymers containing combinations of organic derivatives of zinc and barium, or organic derivatives of zinc and calcium, with organic costabilizers, are typically suitable for such applications as, for example, the production of shaped transparent rigid bottles or films for exterior use.

However, in certain instances--severity of the conditions of thermodynamic conversion, intrinsic instability of certain such polymers--it is necessary to increase the effectiveness of the customary stabilizers insofar as the appearance of the final product is concerned, and especially the permanence of this effectiveness, when the thermal stresses are intensified and prolonged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a major object of the present invention is the provision of improvedly heat-stabilized compositions based on chlorine-containing polymers, more particularly based on PVC, such improved compositions comprising an effective heat-stabilizing amount of a zinc stannate and/or a zinc hydroxystannate in combination with a typical organometallic stabilizer and organic costabilizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

More particularly according to the present invention, the subject heat-stabilized compositions based on a chlorine-containing polymer advantageously comprise (i) at least one organozinc compound, (ii) at least one organocalcium, organobarium, organomagnesium or organolanthanide compound, (iii) at least one organic secondary stabilizer comprising a beta-ketoaldehyde, a beta-diketone, a 1,4-dihydropyridine monomer or polymer, a beta-ketoester, a beta-aminocrotonic ester, a mercaptocarboxylic ester or an alpha-phenylindole, and (iv) at least one zinc stannate and/or zinc hydroxystannate.

The organozinc compounds are advantageously the zinc carboxylates and zinc phenolates.

Particularly exemplary thereof are, for example, the zinc salts of maleic, acetic, diacetic, propionic, hexanoic, octanoic, 2-ethylhexanoic, decanoic, undecanoic, lauric, myristic, palmitric, stearic, oleic, ricinoleic, behenic, hydroxystearic, hydroxyundecanoic, benzoic, phenylacetic, para-tert-butylbenzoic butylbenzoic and of salicylic acids; and zinc phenolates of phenol and of phenols substituted by one or more alkyl radicals, such as the nonylphenols.

For practical purposes or for economic reasons, zinc propionate, zinc octanoate, zinc 2-ethylhexanoate, zinc laurate, zinc stearate, zinc oleate, zinc ricinoleate, zinc benzoate, zinc para-tert-butylbenzoate, zinc salicylate, zinc mono(2-ethylhexyl) maleate and zinc nonylphenates are the preferred.

In general, the organozinc compounds constitute from 0.0054 to 1% by weight relative to the chlorine-containing polymer, and preferably from 0.01% to 0.6% by weight.

The organic compounds of calcium, magnesium, barium and the lanthanides are preferably the carboxylates and the phenolates of these metals.

Particularly exemplary are, for example, the calcium, magnesium, barium and lanthanide salts of maleic, acetic, diacetic, propionic, hexanoic, octanoic, 2-ethylhexanoic, decanoic, undecanoic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, ricinoleic, behenic, hydroxystearic, hydroxyundecanoic, benzoic, phenylacetic, para-tert-butylbenzoic and salicylic acid; and the calcium, magnesium, barium and lanthanide phenolates of phenol and of phenols substituted by one or more alkyl radicals, such as the nonylphenols.

For practical purposes or for economic reasons, the following are the preferred organic compounds of calcium, magnesium, barium and the lanthanides: the propionic, octanoic, 2-ethylhexanoic, lauric, stearic, oleic, ricinoleic, benzoic, para-tert-butylbenzoic and salicylic acid salts, and the mono(2-ethylhexyl) maleate and the nonylphenates of these metals.

Typically, the organic calcium, magnesium, barium and lanthanide compounds constitute from 0.005% to 5% by weight relative to the weight of the chlorine-containing polymer, and preferably from 0.02% to 2% by weight.

For food-contact applications and especially for PVC bottles, organic calcium compounds or mixtures of organic calcium compounds/organic magnesium compounds are used.

Among the organic secondary stabilizers, the β-diketones or β-ketoaldehydes are very particularly effective.

These β-diketones have been described, in particular, in FR-2,292,227, FR-2,324,681, FR-2,351,149, FR-2,352,025, FR-2,383,988 and FR-2,456,132 and in EP-0,040,286 and EP-0,046,161.

Particularly exemplary such 0-diketones include benzoylstearoylmethane, dibenzoylmethane, benzoylacetone, lauroylacetone, decanoylacetone, benzoyl-3-methylbutanoylmethane, methoxycarbonylbenzoylbenzoylmethanes, and such bis-β-diketones as 1,4-bis(acetylaceto)butane, 1,8bis(benzoylaceto)octane and 1,4-bis(acetylaceto)benzene.

The β-diketones generally constitute from 0.005% to 5% by weight relative to the weight of the chlorine-containing polymer, and preferably from 0.01% to 2% by weight.

The 1,4-dihydropyridines are also useful organic stabilizers in the compositions of the invention.

Particularly exemplary thereof are 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethylpyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate monomers, such as those described in FR-A-2,239,496, FR-A-2,405,974 and FR-A-2,405,937, or polymers, such as described in EP-A-286,887.

Usually, these 1,4-dihydropyridines are effective in concentrations of 0.01% to 5% by weight relative to the weight of chlorine-containing polymer, and preferably 0.05% to 2% weight/weight.

Beta-diketones or beta-ketoaldehydes may be used conjointly with the 1,4-dihydropyridines. The overall amounts of these mixtures of compounds are then those indicated, respectively, for each of them.

Among the other organic stabilizers which may be incorporated into the compositions according to the invention, the following are exemplary:

(a) beta-keto esters and more particularly ketoacetic acid esters, as described, in particular, in FR-A-1,435,882 and U.S. Patent No. 2,669,548;

(b) 2-phenylindole and derivatives thereof, such as those described in FR-A-2,273,841, FR-A-2,275,461 and FR-A-2,313,422;

(c) beta-aminocrotonic esters, more particularly long-chain alkyl beta-aminocrotonates, typically C ₁₂ to C ₂₀ alkyl beta-aminocrotonates, and thioalkylene glycol beta-aminocrotonates; and

(d) mercaptocarboxylic acid esters and, more particularly, thioglycolic acid esters, such as those described in FR-A-2,459,816; thiomalic acid diesters, such as those described in EP-A-0,090,748; and 2-mercaptopropionic acid esters, such as those described in FR-A-2,552,440.

The organic stabilizers indicated above constitute from 0.01% to 5% by weight relative to the weight of the chlorine-containing polymer, and preferably from 0.05% to 2% weight/weight.

The zinc stannates and zinc hydroxystannates are more particularly zinc mestastannate ZnSnO3, zinc orthostannate Zn ₂ O ₄ Sn and z inc hydroxystannate ZnSn (OH) ₆ .

These compounds are per se known to this art. Particularly compare P. Pascal, Nouveau Traite de Chimie Minerale (New Treatise on Inorganic Chemistry), volume VIII, for techniques for the preparation thereof.

These formulae are generally accepted, but there may be discrepancies among various authors, in particular with regard to the hydroxystannate, which is sometimes represented as zinc metastannate trihydrate: ZnSnO ₃ .3H ₂ O.

Zinc metastannate and zinc hydroxystannate are the preferred for incorporation into the compositions according to the invention.

The zinc stannate and/or zinc hydroxystannate typically constitute from 0.01% to 5% by weight relative to the weight of chlorine-containing polymer, and preferably from 0.05 to 34 weight/weight.

For conversion into bottles, in particular water bottles, the preferred amount of zinc stannate and/or zinc hydroxystannate ranges from 0.05% to 0.5% weight/weight of chlorine-containing polymer (PVC).

Other than their function as heat costabilizers according to the present invention, zinc stannates and zinc hydroxystannate serve a known flameproofing function. It is therefore possible to significantly increase the amounts of these compounds in the PVC if it is desired to impart the dual effect of heat stabilization and flameproofing.

The compositions of the invention may contain other secondary heat stabilizers, which may be inorganic, such as, in particular, hydrotalcites and dawsonite, or organic, such as, in particular, polyols and phosphites.

Hydrotalcites are alkaline mixed magnesium aluminum carbonates or sulfates. The hydrotalcites described in FR-A-2,483,934 are particularly suitable.

Dawsonite is a basic aluminum sodium carbonate. It is a carbonate in monoclinic crystalline form which is generally represented by the formula NaAl(OH) ₂ CO ₃ . It is described, in particular, in the general publications on inorganic chemistry, such as, for example, P. Pascal, Nouveau Traite de Chimie Minerale (New Treatise on Inorganic Chemistry), volume II.

These inorganic stabilizers are typically present in an amount from 0% to 5% by weight relative to the chlorine-containing polymer, and preferably from 0.02% to 2%.

The polyols typically provide the advantage of prolonging the lifetime of chlorine-containing polymers subjected to a heat treatment.

Generally, it is preferable that the polyols used should have a boiling point higher than 150° C. and preferably higher than 170° C., because of the downstream processing of the chlorine-containing polymers at high temperature.

Exemplary such polyols include the triols, such as trimethylolpropane, glycerol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol and trishydroxyethyl isocyanurate; tetrols, such as pentaerythritol and diglycerol; pentitols, such as xylitol and tetramethylolcyclohexanol; hexitols, such as mannitol, sorbitol and dipentaerythritol; polyols which are partially esterified with a carboxylic acid and which contain at least 3 free hydroxyl groups; and polyvinyl alcohols, in particular those in which less than 30 mol% of ester groups remain, relative to the sum of their ester and hydroxyl groups.

The preferred polyols include xylitol, mannitol, sorbitol, trimethylolpropane, tetramethylolcyclohexanol and the polyvinyl alcohols defined above.

When present in the compositions of the invention, in general from 0.0054 to it by weight of polyol, relative to the chlorine-containing polymer, and preferably from 0.014 to 0.6% by weight, is incorporated.

The compositions according to the invention may also contain organic phosphites, in particular aliphatic phosphites or aromatic phosphites, or mixed aliphatic and aromatic phosphites.

If it is present, the phosphite typically represents from 0.05% to 5% by weight relative to the chlorine-containing polymer and preferably from 0.1% to 2% by weight.

The compositions according to the invention may also contain the customary additives and adjuvants, such as phenolic antioxidants; or anti-UV agents, such as benzophenones, benzotriazoles or sterically hindered amines (generally designated as HALS).

The compositions of the invention may also contain epoxides, in particular epoxidized polyglycerides, such as epoxidized soya oil, epoxidized linseed oil, epoxidized fish oils or expoxidized tall oil.

However, in order to prevent a lowering of the viscosity index of the chlorine-containing polymer, such oils are generally used in as small an amount as possible, depending on the intended final application of the compositions.

Usually, if they are present, the epoxides represent from 0.054 to 5% by weight relative to the weight of the chlorine-containing polymer, and more specifically from 0.1% to 2% by weight.

The compositions of the invention may be rigid formulations, namely, devoid of plasticizer, or semirigid formulations, namely, having reduced plasticizer contents, such as for applications in the construction industry or for the production of bottles.

They may also be plasticized formulations, such as for the production of films for agricultural use.

These plasticizers are known compounds, such as, for example, alkyl phthalates. The plasticizer most typically used is dioctyl phthalate.

If the compositions contain a plasticizer, the amount thereof generally ranges from 54 to 120% by weight relative to the weight of chlorine-containing polymer.

Customarily, the incorporation of the various stabilizers or adjuvants is carried out on the chlorine-containing polymer in the pulverulent state.

It is of course possible to prepare a mixture of two or more constituents forming part of the compositions according to the invention before they are incorporated into the chlorine-containing polymer.

Any of the usual techniques for the incorporation of the various stabilizers or adjuvants into the polymer may be used. For example, the homogenization of the polymer composition may be carried out in a kneader or on a roll mill, at a temperature such that the composition becomes fluid, usually ranging from 150° C. to 200° C. in the case of PVC, and for a sufficient time, on the order of a few minutes to a few tens of minutes.

The chlorine-containing polymer, and more particularly PVC, compositions may be processed by any of the techniques typically employed in this art, such as, for example, extrusion, injection, blown film extrusion, calendering or rotational molding.

In order to further illustrate the present invention and the advantages thereof, the following specific examples are given, it being understood that same are intended only as illustrative and in nowise limitative.

EXAMPLES

The following formulations were prepared:

______________________________________

(i) pulverulent PVC prepared by 100 g suspension polymerization, having a viscosity index of 70 (K value = 57): (ii) impact strength improver (methyl 8 g methacrylate/butadiene/styrene copolymer): (iii) lubricant based on rosin ester 2.05 g (E wax) (iv) epoxidized soya oil: 5 g (v) zinc octanoate see Table (Zn 2-ethylhexanoate): (vi) calcium stearate: 0.2 g (vii) stearoylbenzoylmethane 0.25 g (viii) Zn mestastannate or Zn see Table hydroxystannate:

______________________________________

The PVC and the various additives were premixed at ambient temperature in a high-speed mixer.

The time necessary to achieve good homogenization was about 5 min.

The homogeneous mixtures thus obtained were introduced into a plastograph (manufactured by BRABENDER) consisting of a heated vessel in which the blades counter-rotated in order to knead the polymer and the additives.

The vessel contained 32 g of composition; the temperature was maintained at 180° C. and the speed of rotation of the blades was 60 revolutions/min.

Samples were withdrawn after kneading under these conditions at 5 min, 10 min and 15 min and the color of the withdrawn samples was measured and is expressed as yellowness index, in accordance with ASTM Standard D 1925 (the higher the value of this index, the greater the coloration of the sample).

Hot kneading of each composition was continued until the PVC was entirely degraded and assumed a carbonaceous appearance (carbonization).

The effectiveness of the stabilizers was thus evaluated by:

(a) the coloration (measured as yellowness index) observed on the first sample withdrawn,

(b) the level of stability of the coloration of the subsequent samples withdrawn, and

(c) the time required to reach the carbonization state.

The following Table reports the values of the yellowness index and the carbonization time for the formulations, specifying the amount of Zn metastannate, Zn hydroxystannate and Zn octanoate contained therein.

锡酸钠

锡酸钠
产品名称： 锡酸钠 执行标准： DB/5300G14001-88
品 级： Sn-42和 Sn-36.5 证明编号：

性质：无色六角板状结晶或白色粉末。溶于水，不溶于醇和丙酮。加热至140℃时失去结晶水而成无水物。在空气中吸收二氧化碳而成碳酸钠和氢氧化锡.
分子式：Na2Sn(OH)6
用途：用于镀锡, 锡合金, 媒染剂, 陶瓷, 玻璃, 防火织物等
外观： 白色粉末
品级 Sn% Pb% As% Fe% Sb% NaOH% NO3% 碱不溶物%
Sn-42 ≥42 0.002 0.01 0.02 0.005 3.5 0.1 0.1
Sn-36.5 ≥36.5 0.003 0.01 0.02 0.01 5 .0 0.2 0.2


毒性防护：尘埃多时要使用防毒口罩。注意保护皮肤。生产时操作人员要穿戴劳保防护用具，同时要通风良好。

包装储运：塑料袋密封，铁桶包装，每桶净重25kg。 应贮存在阴凉、干燥的库房中。注意防潮、密封保存。

锡酸锌,羟基锡酸锌

产品名称： 锡酸锌(羟基锡酸锌) 执行标准： Q/RJG005-2001
品 级： 证明编号：

性质：锡酸锌为白色粉末。相对密度3.9，溶解温度大于570℃,毒性很低。羟基锡酸锌ZnSn(OH)6,在一定条件下热分解即可制得锡酸锌.
分子式：ZnSnO3 [ZnSn(OH)6]
用途： 锡酸锌和羟基锡酸锌在大多数聚合物中具有极其良好的阻燃消烟性能，特别是在抑制烟雾的毒性方面有着上佳的表现。有利于保护环境，是很好的安全环保型锡基阻燃添加剂，且对基质材料不发生退色作用，能保持较好的物理性能。主要是作为卤代聚合物配方中的三氧化二锑的替代物，用于陶瓷电容器、电解体的配料和作为新型锡基无毒阻燃添加剂应用于有机聚合物的生产上。优点: ① 无毒、安全、容易操作； ② 具有阻燃作用和烟雾抑制作用； ③ 添加剂量少，性能好；④ 与卤素和填充剂有良好的协同效果； ⑤ 颜料适配性无限制； ⑥ 应用领域广泛。
外观： 白色粉末
名称 Sn% Zn% Cl% 游离水%
锡酸锌 ≥46 ≥26 ≤0.3 ≤0.5
羟基锡酸锌 ≥40 ≥23 ≤0.3 ≤0.5


包装储运：塑料袋密封，铁桶包装，每桶净重25kg。 应贮存在阴凉、干燥的库房中。注意防潮、密封保存。

厂价供应锡酸锌,羟基锡酸锌

1.4 发展趋势分析

1.4.1 世界锡发展趋势

锡作为一种具有巨大潜在市场的金属，具有广泛的工业用途，在世界工业发展中占有重要地位。从电子工业到塑料工业，使用锡的主要领域为马口铁、电镀、腐蚀科学、焊接、材料、锡化工产品及锡的其它冶金用途。但从目前世界锡的消费结构分析来看，锡的消费仍以传统应用为主，某些领域仍呈一定增长态势，其它应用预计也都有适度的增加，但总体来看，这一变化很慢。

(1) 传统应用方面保持稳定
l 镀锡薄板(马口铁) 一方面是新的工艺技术的出现，使锡镀层变薄，从而生产每吨马口铁所消耗的锡用量减少；另一方面由于更多国家扩大马口铁的生产和使用，特别近年来随着亚洲经济增长迅速，韩国、香港、台湾、马来西亚、新加坡、泰国、印度尼西亚、菲律宾，以及中国等国家和地区的镀锡薄板产量不断增长，从而增加了锡的需求量。总的来说，马口铁的耗锡量变化不大。
目前，尽管出现了替代品，但由于镀锡薄板具有无毒、防腐、不易损坏，用来包装食品时保存时间长等一系列优点，所以在包装工业，特别是食品包装方面一直占有主导地位。此外，从工艺角度来看，降低锡镀层的厚度已达到其极限，故锡的用量不可有明显下降。
l 焊料 随着电子工业的发展，焊锡的用锡量已远远超过镀锡薄板的用锡量，成为第一大耗锡产品。目前，随着焊接技术的不断进步和发展，焊锡主要朝以下二方面发展：
1) 为降低成本或从环保的角度出发，焊料的开发进一步向低锡或高锡(无铅)的两个方向发展；
2) 为满足电子工业表面贴装技术的需要，焊料的形式正向多丝、膏等多规格、品种发展，其中免清洗焊膏及焊剂正成为精密电子器件的主要焊接材料。
l 锡合金 由于锡价昂贵，多数国家都致力于开发低锡合金或代锡合金。但由于锡所具有的某些优异特性及不可替代性，总的来说锡合金的应用及耗锡比例保持较为稳定。
l 锡化学制品 一方面正积极寻求锡的替代品，另一方面又不断开发新的产品及拓展新的应用领域。总体来看，在今后的发展中，锡化学制品将保持良好的发展势头。

(2) 新应用促进锡消费量的进一步增长
据国际锡研究所(Itri)的研究表明，预计在今后5年内，消费量会有较大增加。其主要归因于一些锡产品的新用途，其中包括无铅焊料、锡炸药、车轮附重及锡酸锌阻燃剂等。
l 无铅焊料焊料是锡最大的应用领域，主要以传统的63％锡和37％铅的合金形式应用。无铅焊料最早的需求是用作自来水管道工业中连结铜饮用水管，而当今绝大多数发达国家仍坚持在此应用中使用无铅焊料。最近，电子工业应用无铅焊料已得到迅速进展，使用无铅合金做成的焊接点的可靠性已得到了证明，它能用于所有的标准的焊接技术。特别在欧洲和日本，在这些国家中，正在起草立法在焊料中限制用铅。
由于大多数无铅合金至少含有95％锡，取代传统的63%锡和37％铅的焊料，因此到2003年，此项应用就可能每年增加约1万吨锡。
l 锡弹环境保护的压力也为锡带来新的市场机遇，作为弹药和车轮平衡负重中的铅的无毒的代用品。这项用途目前每年消费锡50吨。预计在以后几年内，锡弹有可能增加很快，特别是英国、丹麦、加拿大等国禁止狩猎者在荒郊野地用铅弹猎鸟，以消除对环境的污染问题。
l 新型、环保、无毒锡基阻燃添加剂正替代传统三氧化二锑
锡酸锌（组分为ZnSn(OH)6和ZnSnO3）阻燃剂，现在发现它在各种塑料、橡胶和其它聚合物中应用增加。这些添加剂的无毒性，加之其显著的抑烟性能已使其逐渐取代如三氧化锑等阻燃剂。此外，其它一些锡基阻燃剂也大有前途,这些称为“涂覆填料”(coated fillers)的材料显示出较强的阻燃功效，比得上标准的同类产品。从长远观点看，这些材料能成为锡的新用途，用量将超过锡酸锌。预计2002 年，锡酸锌、羟基锡酸锌等几种同效产品市场容量约7000～8000吨，仅此可使锡的实际消费量增长3500～4000吨。
l 有机锡具有品种繁多、用途广泛等特点(已开发的有机锡产品多达千种，但较常应用的约30种)，是锡消费量增长最快的领域,其中应用最大的是做聚氯乙烯的热稳定剂。目前，在热稳定剂、农药等传统应用方面，有机锡的开发及生产向无毒(或低毒)、高效、复合型、多功能的方向发展。此外，有机锡的开发正向医药等新的应用领域扩张。

总之，在其传统应用领域，锡与其他材料的竞争性较少。虽然不可避免地要与其他代用品发生竞争，但由于锡本身所具有的优越特性，在许多方面是其它材料所无法取代的，因此对锡的需求是较稳定的。特别，随着环保法对使用铅、镉等有毒金属严格限制，以及无铅焊料、锡－锌镀层代镉、锡－镍镀层代铬、锡弹代铅弹等新用途的开发，对调整锡产品结构取到了积极的作用，同时又给锡创造了一个扩展市场占有率的良机。