Advanced Materials

This report on flexible substrates estimates that the total market for flexible substrates will grow to $1.2 billion by 2017.  Demand for these materials is being driven by a wave of interest of adding flexibility in displays, solar panels, sensors as a way to expand markets in difficult times. This report is the latest in ongoing coverage of flexible electronics and photovoltaics markets. It analyzes the opportunities for flexible substrates in a wide range of applications including displays, photovoltaics, sensors, and in a variety of roll-to-roll fabrication applications.

The global market for LCD glass substrates is projected to cross 467.2 million square meters by the year 2017, primarily driven by rising penetration of LCD TVs and the growing demand for large size displays. In addition, technological advancements, mounting demand for display applications and government stimulus programs will provide impetus to the LCD industry and consequently drive growth in the market for LCD glass substrates. Asian markets including Korea, Taiwan and the recent contender China are the primary LCD glass substrates hubs worldwide and continue to accelerate development and expansion at an impressive pace.

Organic light emitting diodes (OLED) technology advanced rapidly in 2011, a trend that will continue through this decade. OLED technology has progressed in areas including organic materials, color patterning, electronic driving methods, and encapsulation. OLED display revenues are estimated to exceed $4 billion in 2011 (approximately 4% of flat panel display revenues), and are forecast to reach more than $20 billion (approximately 16% of the total display industry by 2018. In addition, OLED lighting gained momentum in 2011, and is forecast to reach revenues of approximately $6 billion by 2018.

The global market for Electronic Chemicals is forecast to reach US$51.2 billion by the year 2017, as the major end-use sector, electronics, regains strength after being severely impacted by the global economic slump in recent times. Market growth is primarily being driven by increased levels of investments, resurgence in R&D activity, technological developments and sharp increase in demand by end-use markets. In addition, strong development potential exhibited by emerging nations also augurs well for the electronic chemicals market which is expected to witness accelerated pace of development over the ensuing years.

The global market for Printing Inks is projected to reach US$18.2 billion by the year 2017, driven by the mounting popularity of environment friendly inks, and incessant technology innovations that are opening up newer growth avenues including relatively new markets such as UV and ink jet inks. Radiation curing inks and energy-curable ink technology also offer numerous opportunities, thereby pepping up industry growth prospects.

In a recent release, RARE EARTHS: WORLDWIDE MARKETS, APPLICATIONS, AND TECHNOLOGIES, the global market for rare earth oxides (REO) was 158.2 thousand metric tons in 2011, and is expected to reach nearly 258 thousand metric tons by 2016, a compound annual growth rate of 10.3%.

Consumption in the global market for polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) is forecast to reach 444,532 metric tons by the year 2017,spurred by immense demand from burgeoning photovoltaic industry, the largest end-user market. The polysilicon industry currently is in a state of oversupply mainly due to the disproportionate demand-supply cyclical trend worldwide. Uncontrolled spree of massive capacity expansions across US, Europe and China, coupled with recession and highly volatile price fluctuations led to a state of glut with huge supply surplus and weak demand. Solar industry is primed to outpace the traditional semiconductor industry as the single largest polysilicon consumer, mainly for use in solar panels.

World Superconducting Magnets market is forecast to reach $2.94 billion by the year 2017. A futuristic, potential laden technology, superconductivity with its promised benefits in the medium to long term witnessed strong investments in product/technology development, despite the industry’s harrowing brush with the global financial crises led slowdown. The relatively untapped potential in major end-use applications offers numerous opportunities in the medium to long-term.

World Superconducting Magnets market is forecast to reach $2.94 billion by the year 2017. A futuristic, potential laden technology, superconductivity with its promised benefits in the medium to long term witnessed strong investments in product/technology development, despite the industry’s harrowing brush with the global financial crises led slowdown. The relatively untapped potential in major end-use applications offers numerous opportunities in the medium to long-term.

Fuel cells are viewed as potential candidates for auxiliary power, mobile power, stationary distributed or central power, and portable product power. Solid oxide fuel cells are among the most efficient and cost-effective. Although relatively high operating temperature limits the range of applications possible, stationary, mobile, and even portable product configurations are possible. The global solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) market totaled $380 million in 2011, and is expected to hold a value of $530 million in 2016, increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%.