Caprolactam Market Analysis and Industry Chain In-depth Interpretation: From Synthesis Processes to Purification Technologies

Covering market size and growth rate, upstream-midstream-downstream integration logic, mainstream production routes and purification technology comparisons, with a focus on energy-efficient high-purity melt crystallization solutions.

Start Browsing Learn About Melt Crystallization

Global CPL Market

$12.28 billion (2023) → $18.71 billion (2030)

2024-2030 CAGR

6.3%

Core Monomer

Nylon 6 (PA6)

Source: Industry statistics and public data compilation

I. Market Overview

Caprolactam (CPL), as the core monomer of Nylon 6, spans three major sectors: fibers, engineering plastics, and films, demonstrating strong cyclical resilience and integration dividends.

According to statistics, the global caprolactam market reached $12.28 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $18.71 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.3% from 2024 to 2030.

Medium to long-term demand is driven by civil and industrial fibers, engineering plastics upgrades, and functional film expansion.
Integrated layouts (Benzene-Cyclohexanone/KA Oil-CPL-PA6) enhance raw material and energy synergies, strengthening anti-cyclical capabilities.

Global Caprolactam Market Trend Chart (Emergen Research) — Image Source: Emergen Research (Illustrative)

II. Industry Chain Structure

Upstream based on benzene; midstream featuring caprolactam plants with ammonium sulfate by-product synergy; downstream polymerization into PA6 chips, extending to fibers, engineering plastics, films, and modified materials.

Upstream

Benzene
Cyclohexane / Cyclohexanone (KA Oil)
Ammonia, Sulfuric Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂)

Midstream

Caprolactam (CPL) Plants
By-product Ammonium Sulfate (Traditional Sulfuric Acid Process)

Downstream

PA6 Chips → Fibers (Civil, Industrial)
Engineering Plastics
Films and Modified Materials

III. Demand Structure and Typical Applications

Nylon 6 accounts for over 95% of caprolactam consumption, with approximately 60-65% for fibers, 25-30% for engineering plastics, and 5-10% for films and others.

Caprolactam Fibers

Civil Fibers: Underwear, socks, shirts, etc.
Industrial Fibers: Tire cords, sailcloth, parachutes, insulation materials, fishing nets, seatbelts, etc.

Nylon-6 Engineering Plastics

Precision machinery gears, housings, hoses
Oil-resistant containers, cable sheaths, textile equipment parts, etc.

Nylon-6 Films

Packaging Industry: Food packaging, medical packaging, etc.

IV. Main Production Processes

Currently, the main caprolactam production methods are the ammoximation process and HPO process, with the ammoximation process being the domestic mainstream (accounting for approximately 81%). The main raw material is cyclohexanone, with upstream mostly purchasing petroleum benzene and some using hydrogenated benzene.

Cyclohexanone Oxime Process

Core steps include ammoximation (producing cyclohexanone oxime) and Beckmann rearrangement (generating caprolactam), traditionally using fuming sulfuric acid with ammonium sulfate as a by-product. The process is mature and suitable for large-scale plants.

Cyclohexane Oxidation Process

First oxidized to KA oil, then ammoximation + Beckmann rearrangement; suitable for coupling with cyclohexanone plants, offering significant integrated raw material advantages.

V. Purification Goals and Common Technologies

Goal: Remove chromophores, cyclohexanone/oxime residues, oligomers, metal ions, and moisture to ensure polymerization-grade or high-purity caprolactam quality.

Crystallization Purification

Selective precipitation, high purity, controllable solvent requirements, suitable for polymerization-grade and high-end applications.

Vacuum Distillation

Good continuity, excellent for removing low boilers and moisture, moderate energy consumption, requires attention to distillation column efficiency and heat integration.

Solvent Extraction/Washing

Rapid impurity removal, broad impurity spectrum; requires solvent recovery and VOC control, suitable for crude product pre-purification.

Method	Advantages	Key Focus	Application Scenarios
Crystallization	High purity, strong selectivity	Moderate energy consumption, crystallization control	Pre-polymerization purification/high-end applications
Distillation	Continuous stability, excellent dehydration/low boiler removal	Column efficiency, heat integration	Large-scale, online stable control
Extraction	Fast-acting, broad impurity spectrum	Solvent recovery and VOC	Crude product pretreatment

VI. Melt Crystallization Technology

An efficient, environmentally friendly separation technology used to improve caprolactam purity, especially suitable for removing thermosensitive impurities; corresponding equipment has been modularized for easy scale-up production.

Crystallization

After heating and melting crude caprolactam, it is slowly cooled below the melting point, with pure CPL preferentially crystallizing out while impurities remain in the mother liquor.

Sweating

Temperature is raised close to the melting point to partially melt the surface of the crystal layer, expelling entrapped impurities and further improving purity.

Melting

The crystal layer is completely melted to collect high-purity liquid CPL; mother liquor and sweat can be recycled for material closed-loop circulation.

Core Advantages

High Purity: Up to 99.99%+, suitable for electronic-grade products.
Low Energy Consumption: 10%-30% of distillation energy consumption, no need for vaporization latent heat.
Environmental Friendliness: No solvent used, reducing pollution and recovery costs.
Low-Temperature Operation: Suitable for thermosensitive substances, avoiding high-temperature decomposition.

Process Integration and Pretreatment

Through the series connection of pretreatment (dehydration, dehydrogenation, de-heavy ends) and crystallization, efficient purification from "amide oil" to "caprolactam" can be achieved; the crystallization process requires no solvent, significantly reducing benzene usage, with a concise, continuous, safe and reliable process, and simultaneous reduction in investment and operating costs.

Need Customized Caprolactam Purification/Melt Crystallization Solutions?

Contact our technical team for process packages, energy consumption calculations, and scale-up recommendations.

Schedule Technical Consultation