How to Reduce PVC Formulation Dependence on Standard Antimony Trioxide
Antimony trioxide remains an effective synergist in flame-retardant systems for plasticized PVC. The issue is not ATO itself, but a formulation’s dependence on an expensive raw material with high price volatility and limited availability on the export market.
What Is Changing in the ATO Market
Since September 2024, China has applied export controls to certain antimony materials. For antimony oxides, the restrictions apply to products with a purity of 99.99% or higher. Exporting these materials requires a permit.
The gap between the domestic and export markets remains significant. According to Shanghai Metals Market data for July 2026:
- ATO 99.5% on China’s domestic market averaged approximately USD 9,500 per tonne;
- the export quotation for ATO 99.5% on an FOB China basis* was approximately USD 25,500 per tonne.
*The domestic quotation refers to material held in warehouses in China, excluding VAT, while the FOB price refers to an export sale after Chinese customs clearance. The difference is therefore explained not by the cost of delivery to the port, but by the limited availability of lots approved for export.
For PVC compound manufacturers, this means unstable formulation costs, difficulties with long-term planning, the need to maintain safety stock, and the risk of supply delays. Most importantly, it means having a tested formulation-adjustment option in advance.
Complete elimination of antimony is not always technically or economically justified. A more practical approach is to use the antimony component as part of a comprehensive flame-retardant system.
Revaguard RG69P for PVC Compounds
Revaguard RG69P is a multifunctional flame-retardant additive for PVC. The product contains a high percentage of antimony trioxide while not being subject to Chinese export restrictions. It also includes functional components designed to address smoke generation. RG69P is not a damped or dust-suppressed grade of standard ATO. It is a separate flame-retardant system with its own composition and balance of properties.
Using RG69P makes it possible to:
- retain the PVC platform and existing processing technology;
- eliminate separate addition of standard powdered ATO;
- improve the flame-retardant performance of the compound;
- simultaneously work on reducing smoke generation;
- combine several functions in one product;
- evaluate the result by the cost of the formulation that achieves the target performance.
RG69P does not eliminate dependence on the antimony market completely. Its role is to use the antimony component more efficiently and reduce formulation dependence on standard ATO.
Can RG69P Replace ATO at a 1:1 Ratio?
Yes. RG69P is designed to replace standard ATO at a 1:1 ratio by weight, and this dosage should be the starting point for the first trial.
This approach allows a direct comparison without first rebuilding the entire PVC formulation. When the result is successful, the producer moves from separately added powdered ATO to a comprehensive flame-retardant system that simultaneously addresses flame-retardant performance and smoke generation.
The final result depends on the plasticized compound composition, plasticizer content, filler loading, product thickness, and fire-test method. After replacement, the following should be checked:
- the target fire-performance indicator;
- smoke generation;
- processability;
- the main material properties;
- the cost of the finished formulation.
If individual indicators need improvement, the RG69P dosage or other components of the flame-retardant system can be adjusted. This is normal formulation optimisation, not a rejection of the 1:1 replacement approach.
How to Test RG69P
The first trial is carried out on the current formulation by replacing standard ATO with RG69P at the same dosage by weight.
To prepare the trial, Revada Plastic specialists need the current formulation, ATO dosage, and finished-product requirements. Based on these data, the first comparative trial is agreed and the economic result of using RG69P is evaluated.
