NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ —
PTFE micro powder or micronized PTFE is made from [Natural Prime] polytetrafluoroethylene resin or recycled PTFE scrap. PTFE is irradiated using technologies, such as electron beam irradiation or thermal degradation, followed by grinding or milling to form low molecular weight PTFE micro powders that are used as additives for various applications. Micronized PTFE caters to an entirely different market from that of other fluoropolymers. PTFE micro additives are added to coatings, thermoplastics, elastomers, inks, and grease & lubricants in order to enhance their physical as well as chemical characteristics, such as tensile strength, wear resistance, lubricity, and flame retarding properties. The use of PTFE micro powders as additive has been increasing over the years due to increase in the demand of high performance polymers that operate under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure.
Asia-Pacific is the global leader in the consumption of PTFE micro powders and this dominance is expected to continue till 2019.China is the key market in the region, consuming more than half of the demand for PTFE micro powders, followed by Japan, South Korea, and India where consumption is growing at a steadily. Increase in the consumption of PTFE micro powders for inks, coatings, and thermoplastics has been observed in Asia-Pacific due to continued industrialization and rise in the manufacturing sector of the region. Growing innovation and developments in the micronized PTFE consumer industries for better products are directly affecting the rise in the use of PTFE micro powders. The excessive growth and innovation, along with industry consolidations, are projected to ascertain a bright future for the industry in the region.
Inks require different additives in order to achieve the right formulation for usage in different end-user industries. The selection of additives for inks is highly critical because any deviation from the required properties may result in entire formulation being destroyed. PTFE micro powders in inks are sought out for their value-added properties such as small particle size, abrasion/rub resistance, and blocking. Low molecular weight PTFE micro powders are sometimes referred to as PTFE waxes in the ink industry because they perform similar functions as hydrocarbon waxes do in ink formulations.
This study on micronized PTFE market estimates the market value for PTFE micro powders and projects the same by 2019. As a part of quantitative analysis, the study segments the market by application at country level with the current market estimation and forecast till 2019. The countries covered in the report are China, Japan, India, South Korea, Germany, the U.K. Italy, the Netherlands, and the U.S. The segmentation by application includes inks, thermoplastics, coatings, grease & lubricants, and elastomers. Further as a part of qualitative analysis, the research provides a comprehensive review of major market drivers, restraints, opportunities, winning imperatives, challenges, and key issues in the market. It also includes the company profiling and competitive strategies adopted by different market players, including Shamrock Technologies (U.S.), E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company (U.S.), Daikin Industries Limited (Japan), Solvay S.A. (Belgium), Micro Powders, Inc. (U.S.), and 3M (U.S.), Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. (Japan), Chenguang Research Institute of Chemical Industry (China), Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited (India), and Shanghai 3F New Materials Company Limited (China).