The majority of current global revenues for carbon nanotubes are generated by relatively large-scale manufacturing of bulk materials for applications where electrical conductivity, increased mechanical performance and flame retardancy are primary design drivers. Composites, field emission devices and batteries are the most prominent and commercially viable current applications. Next generation products will incorporate sensing capabilities and multi-functionality and lead to greatly increased revenues over the next 3-10 years. Prices will also fall over the next few years as large companies begin to produce commercial-scale volumes of nanotubes. Large multi-nationals such as Arkema, Bayer and Showa Denko have significantly ramped up production levels; companies in China and Russia are also producing significantly cheaper nanotubes.

Main markets at present for nanotubes are aerospace, automotive, defence and electronics & data storage; generally as multi-purpose compound enhancers. In aerospace, nanotubes already find application as additives for ESD and EMI shielding; as electrostatic coatings and component reinforcement additives in the automotive sector; in various defence applications; and as conductive polymers and composites for field emission displays. This represents the first generation of nanotubes products; the next generation will be based on controlled fabrications.

The electronics and data storage market is likely to see the biggest penetration to 2015, with the performance enhancing properties of carbon nanotubes allowing electronics manufacturers to meet demanding market needs across a variety of applications. Their incorporation into the displays applications will also increase demand, with a conservative revenue forecast of $385 million by 2015. The main driving force for investment in carbon nanotubes R&D is their promise to offer improvements in materials capabilities across a wide range of applications. This is of huge strategic importance to sectors which historically leverage technological advancements. Carbon nanotubes enable radical design changes for a wide variety of markets by permitting combinations of properties not previously possible in materials design and affording multi-functionality for increased efficiency. The challenge is translating the excellent combination of nanotubes properties on the nanoscale to structural properties on the macroscale. Current hindrances include: inconsistent quality of carbon nanotubes supply; dispersion; characterization of carbon nanotubes nanocomposites; and scaling down processing equipment to work around the low CNT supply.


 
Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications' web site. View the report: The Global Market for Nanotubes to 2015: A realistic assessment.