Foam Blowing Agents (Hydrocarbons (HC), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) and Others) Market for Polyurethane Foams, Polystyrene Foams, Polyolefin Foams and Other Applications - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023
The report states that the global market for foam blowing agents approximated US$ 631.3 million in 2013, and will expand to US$ 843.8 million by the end of 2020. By volume, the market for foam blowing agents was estimated at 310.5 kilo tons as of 2013.
From the geographical standpoint, the demand for foam blowing agents in all regions dwarfed in comparison to Asia Pacific, which held over 50% of all market shares in 2013. The region is expected to continue its impressive run through the remainder of the forecast period of this report. Vigorous growth of the construction and automotive industries in Asia Pacific can be credited for the heightened demand for foam blowing agents, particular in PU foam applications. Europe, slotted as a mature market, will register scanty growth numbers over the forecast period whereas North America – which held 24% share in the foam blowing agents market in 2013 – will display moderate growth.
The single largest growth driver pinned down by the market research report is the heightened demand for foam blowing agents in the PU foams manufacturing industry. Despite this seemingly positive market trend, growth will likely be hindered by the unpredictable prices of feedstock derived from the petroleum industry. Of late, regulations pertaining to the chemicals sector have become harsh – while this harms conventional foam blowing agents, it offers the promise of growth for green foam blowing agents. Hydrofluoroolefins (HFO) are an example of the latter.
The report broadly segments the market for foam blowing agents based on product type as: Hydrocarbons (HC), Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), and others (hydrazine, azodicarbonamide, CO2, and water). The fastest growth among all of these segments is expected to stem from the hydrocarbon (HC) foam blowing agents segment. The team of analysts that compiled this report also forecast that hydrocarbon (HC) foam blowing agents will be the largest segment through the forecast period.
About 50% of all foam blowing agents were used in the PU foams market as of 2013, the study further reports. The PU application will expand impressively in view of the mounting demand for insulation applications within the construction industry.
Upcoming Reports:
(1) - Iron Ore Market - Global Industry Expert Opinions Analysis, Emerging Opportunities, Market Size, Share, Growth Drivers, Market Trends, Statistics And Forecast 2015 - 2020
Iron ore are minerals and rocks from which metallic iron is extracted using various technologies. Iron ores are rich in iron oxides and usually vary in color from dark grey, deep purple, rusty red and bright yellow. Iron is usually found in various forms such as magnetite (Fe3O4), hematite (Fe2O3), goethite (FeO(OH), siderite (FeCO3) or limonite (FeO(OH).n(H2O)). The economically viable forms of iron ore usually contain about 25% and 60% of iron. Ores containing more that 60% of magnetite and hematite are known as natural ore. The ores having very high quantity of hematite are also known as direct shipping ore. Direct shipping ores are those raw materials that can be fed directly into iron-making blast furnaces. However, most of the reserves containing these ores are slowly depleting.
Iron ore is used to manufacture pig steel which is further processed to manufacture steel. Thus, iron ore is one of the major raw material used to manufacture steel. Apart from oil, iron ore is expected to be more integral to the global economy than any other commodity. Metallic iron is usually not found directly in the Earth’s crust. However, it is found in rare forms of xenoliths and as iron-nickel alloys from meteorites in the deep mantle. Iron is the fourth most abundantly element available in the Earth’s crust. Most of the iron is found in silicates and in rare carbonate minerals. Iron ore usually contains host of unwanted elements that are not required in manufacturing of steel. However, the separation process of iron from other minerals requires highly energy intensive technologies.
(2) - Polyalkylene Glycol Market - Global Industry Expert Opinions Analysis, Emerging Opportunities, Market Size, Share, Growth Drivers, Market Trends, Statistics And Forecast 2015 - 2020
Polyalkylene glycol (PAG) is a hydrofluoro carbon (HFC) used in several industries. PAG was developed as an alternative to chlorofluorocarbon’s (CFC’s) after the ban because of its harmful effects on ozone layer. PAG is environment friendly and has very low toxicity at operational concentrations.
The global automotive lubricants market is expected to be the key driving factor for the PAG market. New applications of PAG lubricants are projected to bring future opportunities for market growth. However, availability of substitutes in the market might hinder the demand growth in coming years.
The PAG market can be divided into four key market segments based on applications such as lubricants, surface active agents, functional fluids and chemical intermediates. Lubricant is the leading market segment in terms of size as well as the growth rate. PAG lubricants are majorly consumed by automotive industry in the automotive air-conditioners and as lubricants for gears and hydraulic fluids. It is also used as chemical intermediate for polycarboxylate ethers (PCE).
(3) - Keratin Market - Global Industry Expert Opinions Analysis, Emerging Opportunities, Market Size, Share, Growth Drivers, Market Trends, Statistics And Forecast 2015 - 2020
Keratin is an essential biochemical that belongs to the category of fibrous structural proteins. Structural protein namely keratin is a key biomaterial that helps in making up the outer layer of human skin. Keratin is also a key structural component of nails and hair. The monomers of keratin are crucial to form intermediate filaments as they assemble into various shapes to form bundles. Intermediate filaments formed from keratin are usually insoluble and tough in nature. Keratin proteins also help in forming strong unmineralised tissues which are generally found in birds and reptiles, mammals and amphibians.
The only biological material that has the potential to substitute toughness of keratinized tissue is chitin. Like most of the other naturally derived protein biomaterials such as chitin and collagen, keratin also possesses amino acid sequence. Keratin is the biomaterial that is similar to other extracellular matrix that plays a vital role in supporting the cellular attachment, migration and proliferation of the various cells within the body. Keratins are polymers that belong to type III and type IV class of the intermediate filaments. Keratins are mainly found in the genomes of various chordates such as amphioxus, urochordates and vertebrates. The silk fibrions that are widely produced by spiders and insects often belong to the class of keratins. It was theorized that keratin are usually combined into soft, hard or cytokeratins and other keratins. Like most other intermediate filaments keratin proteins form filamentous polymers in a series of assembly steps which mainly begins with dimerization.
(4) - Ketene Market - Global Industry Expert Opinions Analysis, Emerging Opportunities, Market Size, Share, Growth Drivers, Market Trends, Statistics And Forecast 2015 - 2020
Ketene is a highly reactive colorless gas that is extremely irritating when inhaled as it affects the lungs. Ketene readily polymerizes and hence cannot be transported easily in its gaseous state. Ketene is not isolated but it is consumed immediately after it is produced. Diketene is an important industrial chemical which is manufactured from ketene. Diketene is produced by autodimerization of ketene and is very stable in nature, thus can be easily stored for weeks under refrigeration. Ketene and diketene are very important industrial intermediate which is mainly consumed at its production site.
Majority of the ketene manufactured is used in the manufacturing of acetic anhydride. China is the largest producer of acetic anhydride and hence in turn is the leading producer and consumer of ketene as well. Increasing demand for the cellulose acetate flake has also boosted the overall demand for the ketene market. Middle East is expected to witness huge demand for ketene in the coming years owing to the presence of one of the world’s largest acetyl facility in Saudi Arabia. The growing Chinese demand has boost the production capacity of acetic anhydride and sorbic acid is expected to drive the global ketene market. In addition, the increasing demand for diketene in India has led to an increase in the demand for ketene market. There was a steady shift of the ketene consumption witnessed from U.S to the Asia Pacific regions. Other regions in the world are expected to witness slow growth in the demand for ketene market. However, the increasing environment awareness has led to the development of stringent regulation regarding the manufacturing process of ketene which in turn is expected to hamper the growth of the market to a great extent.
