GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Nanocomposites market. World nanocomposites market is forecast to reach 1.3 billion pounds (lbs.) by the year 2015.
With the recession now at its tail end, growth in nanocomposites market will be driven by robust demand outlook within the electronics industry and emerging application possibilities in military and aerospace sectors.
The impact of the economic recession has been diverse and disproportionate, among industries across the globe, with some smarting from the heat and dust raised by the economic turmoil, while others crumbled under the pressure. The unusually pronounced length and depth of the current recession has had even high-end disruptive technologies like nanotechnology succumbing to the economic pressure making the industry no longer a safe haven. The reverberating impact of the recession across the nanotechnology value chain is undeniable. Economic and financial hardships imposed by the downturn have tripped sales of nano-enabled products thus sending knock-on effects up the supply chain to the nanomaterials market.
A mixed bag of blessings and challenges for nanocomposites was largely witnessed with end-use industries like packaging withstanding the pressure relatively better, while application areas in industries like construction and automotive flattened out. Steep declines in construction activity, reduced new housing starts and fall in sales of new automobiles have brought out the construction and automotive industries as the two major causalities of the recession. Decline in demand for nano-enabled products in the automotive industry, such as, nano-enabled automotive lubricants, catalytic converters, sensors and filters, among others, frustrated market opportunities for nanomaterials used in this application area, such as multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and ceramic nanoparticles. Additionally, culling of disruptive product development projects involving nanotechnology by companies battered by financial hardships and reduced budgets for R&D, lengthens the technology adoption cycle, thus impacting demand for nano-materials, such as, ceramic nanomaterials, which are often core for functional performance of products.
Nevertheless, the market for nanocomposites successfully rode out the worst-ever downturn without recording hurting erosions in market value, although the erosion in growth momentum has been unsettling. In the electronics industry, interestingly, the recession induced cost/price sensitivity has resulted in manufacturers, especially in the semiconductor industry, looking at nanocomposites with more than a passing interest, given its potential to reduce manufacturing costs and increase product competitiveness in the marketplace. Another factor fingered to have helped prop up growth patterns despite ailing commercial investments as a result of risk-averse venture capitalists shying away from risky investments, is the government support in funding and promoting nanotechnology projects.
The demand for nanocomposites in the electronics industry will be primarily driven by the need to enhance speed and performance of semiconductors and electronics. The need to improve safety in military and aerospace applications and the desire to increase efficiency of renewable energy devices will drive increased adoption of nanocomposites in the defense and energy sectors respectively. In the construction end-use application, nanocomposites flaunt the potential to make a huge impact given the massive total addressable market, given the sheer magnitude of possible applications, such as, its use in manufacturing durable steel, and concrete, dirt repellent, self-cleaning windows, fire-resistant building materials, energy efficient solar panels, among others. Also, the current and future application benefits of nanocomposites, especially in environmental remediation, go beyond the current temporary weakness in market climate.
Global demand for Nanocomposites in Electronics & Electrical end-use is expected to surge at a CAGR of more than 14% through 2015. Most of the Nanocomposites in Automotive end-use are based on thermoplastics with major applications in gas tanks, fuel pumps, interior and under-bonnet parts, body panels, power tool housings, electrical parts and appliances, packaging and building components, shock absorbers, and coolants.
As stated by the new market research report, Europe and United States account for a major share of the global Nanocomposites market. While the US and Europe will continue to remain major geographic markets for nanotechnology industry for the foreseeable future, their market shares are expected to be poached by the rapidly expanding Asian markets. Governments of Asia-Pacific region have embraced nanotechnology with enthusiasm. Recent R&D initiatives by emerging economies such as China, Russia and India in the area of nanotechnology, will significantly contribute to the growth of nanotechnology-enabled products in the years to come.
Major players in the marketplace include 3M ESPE, Arkema Group, BASF SE, Cabot Corporation, Cyclics Corporation, DSM Somos, Du Pont (E.I) De Nemours & Company, Elementis Specialties Inc, eSpin Technologies Inc., Evonik Degussa GmbH, Foster Corporation, Hybrid Plastics, Industrial Nanotech Inc, Inframat Corporation, InMat Inc, Nanocor Incorporated, Nanoledge SA, Nanophase Technologies Corporation, Powdermet Inc, Showa Denko K.K., Rockwood Additives Ltd, TNO, Unitika Ltd, Zyvex Technologies, among others.
The research report titled “Nanocomposites: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, issues, drivers, company profiles, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities. The report provides market estimates and projections (in Millions Pounds) for major geographic markets including the United States, Europe, and Rest of World. End-use segments analyzed include Packaging, Building & Construction, Electronics & Electrical, Automotive and Others.
Source: http://www.strategyr.com/