manufacturing new epoxy resins,
diluents, as well as curing agents
that enable formulation of low or
zero VOC (volatile organic compound) systems, which in turn will drive
the market focus away from conventional
low-solid formulations to environment
friendly systems like powder coatings and
waterborne coatings.
The stringent VOC emission standards
drafted in the Clean Air Act, has encouraged the industrial coatings sector to continue its shift away from conventional
solventborne liquid coatings to environmental friendly powder coatings, water-based coatings, radiation cured, and electro
deposition coatings, which will generate
substantial opportunities for epoxy resins
in the short- to medium-term period. The
escalating demand from end use segments
such as marine and maintenance coatings
in Asia is likely to prop up demand and
drive growth in the epoxy resin market.
Highly correlated to national GDP
growth, the market is susceptible to economic downturns, particularly in automotives, housing and construction industries.
Factors such as higher oil prices, feedstock
costs, propylene and chlorine prices pressurize epoxy producers to increase prices.
Such market fundamentals play a dominant
role in regulating the overall market.
Though demand for epoxy resins in construction, electrical and electronics, composites, and automotive sectors was
adversely affected due to the impact of economic recession, steady inflow of orders
from energy and aerospace industries, however provided some respite to the otherwise
depressed epoxy resins market in 2008-09.
The wind energy sector especially presented
strong market opportunities for epoxy
resins over the last few years, thereby helping the market sustain momentum during
the recession. While demand for epoxy
resins in developed nations such as the
United States, Europe and Japan was hit
hard, the market in developing regions including Asia-Pacific, witnessed steady demand, largely due to robust construction
and automotive sectors in emerging
economies such as China and India.
Globally, industrialized countries such as
Europe, United States and Japan, which in
the early part of the decade represented the
largest consumers of epoxy resins, are today
being elbowed aside by developing countries
in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Demand
for these resins exhibits a cyclical pattern
with consumption falling during recession
and picking up during an economic boom.
Future growth for epoxy resin is forecast to stem exclusively from emerging
economies of Asia-Pacific, Latin America
and Eastern Europe. Asia-Pacific, buoyed
by rapid industrialization, production and
demand from China is well positioned as
the single largest regional market for
epoxy resins, garnering the lion's share of
the worldwide sales, as stated by the new
market research report on Epoxy Resins.
The region is also forecast to display the
overall fastest CAGR of about 7. 6 percent
through 2017, stemming from robust
growth in the construction and automotive
sectors in China and India. By end-use segment, the paints and coatings market registered largest market gains, sustained by
heavy demand from solvent-based paints
and coatings sector. On the other hand, the
market for electrical laminates is poised for
strong growth over the analysis period.
New study analyzes world
market for nanocoatings
The general coating industry has declined
but specialized coating surface engineering sectors are witnessing strong growth
driven by the needs of high-end industries,
such as oil and gas and electronics, according to a new report released by Future Markets Inc., an advanced
technology consultancy with a focus on
the development and commercialization
of nanomaterials and nanotechnology.
The firm says nanocoatings are opening up new market opportunities in the
global coatings arena. Properties such as
anti-microbialism, thermal insulation, dirt
and water repellency, hardness, corrosion
resistance, flame retardancy, UV stability,
anti-graffiti, self-cleaning, moisture absorbing, gloss retention and chemical and
mechanical properties are improved significantly using nanostructured materials.
Global revenues for nanocoatings in
2011 were estimated to be $1559 million
the report said.
Despite the market being affected by the
global economic recession, product inno-
vation and the need to meet stringent environmental regulations is driving market demand across a wider range of markets.
Global revenues for nanocoatings in
2017 are estimated to be $7,821 million,
a CAGR of 27. 25 percent. Conservative
estimates put the 2017 market at
$4371.2 million.
The market for nanocoatings will grow
across all sectors over the next five to 10
years, with the medical, electronics and displays (especially smart phones), interior and
exterior household coatings and food processing markets all experiencing significant
growth, driven by the need for improved
sanitary facilities and also pushed by the
vast improvements nanocoatings offer,
from both a protective and destructive perspective. The military market will remain
the largest market with anti-corrosion coatings increasingly applied. Anti-corrosion
coatings and super hardness will also drive
revenues in the oil and gas industry, for protective surfaces in pipelines and harsh environments and on drilling equipment.
Research and Markets
publishes "Coatings for
Biomedical Applications"
The biomaterials sector is rapidly expanding and significant advances have been
made in the technology of biomedical
coatings and materials, which provide a
means to improve the wear of joints,
change the biological interaction between
implant and host and combine the properties of various materials to improve device
performance. "Coatings for Biomedical
Applications," published by Research and
Markets, provides an extensive review of
coating types and surface modifications
for biomedical applications.
The first part of the book explores a
range of coating types and their biomedical applications. Chapters look at hydrophilic, mineral and pyrolytic carbon
coatings in and ex vivo orthopaedic applications and finally at surface modification and preparation techniques. Part two
presents case studies of orthopaedic and
ophthalmic coatings, and biomedical applications including vascular stents, cardiopulomonary by-pass equipment and
ventricular assist devices.
"Coatings for Biomedical Applications"
