Advanced Materials

In a recent release, U.S. consumption of advanced ceramics and nanoceramic powders is estimated at 1.5 billion pounds, with a market value of  nearly $3.4 billion in 2011. Those amounts are projected to reach nearly 2 billion pounds and $5.4 billion in 2016, after increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. U.S. consumption of advanced ceramics is expected to be 1.5 billion pounds, with a value of $2.8 billion in 2011, and in 2016 those numbers are projected to reach 2 billion pounds and $4.1 billion, yielding CAGRs of 8.3%. As for nanoceramic powders, their values should surpass $600 million in 2011 and reach nearly $1.3 billion in 2016, a CAGR of 16.4% over the next five years.

World demand for rare earths is forecast to expand 7.1 percent per year to 180,000 metric tons in 2015. In dollar terms, sales are expected to more than triple from $3.0 billion in 2010 to $9.2 billion in 2015. Consumption will be driven by increases in battery alloy, electronic product, motor vehicle and permanent magnet output. Market growth is expected to accelerate substantially from the 2005-2010 period, when demand in most nations was negatively impacted by sharp and unexpected reductions in Chinese export quotas which led to an exponential rise in rare earths prices. The report provides historical demand data (2000, 2005, 2010) plus forecasts for 2015 and 2020 by type and market for the world, six regions and 14 countries. Seven major commercial types of rare earths are broken out, as well as seven major markets. The study also assesses market environment factors, examines company market share and profiles global industry competitors.

The global CMP consumables market has recovered from the 2008-2009 recession with a vengeance. 2010 CMP revenues are up 37% over 2009 and have already recovered to 2007 levels, two years earlier than expected, according to a recent report. The CMP combined pad and slurry market this year is forecast to be $1.65B, rising by 2016 to $1.96B for a CAGR of 4.4% over this period. The rebound carries with it a redistribution of wealth from tungsten and ILD slurry revenues to copper and STI, indicative both of the growing manufacturing volumes of leading edge copper devices and of the higher ASP of these advanced slurries. In retrospect, several CMP consumable suppliers that are focused on leading edge customers now report that they did not see a dip in revenues or volume through the 2008-2009 recession.

The 2010 market for semiconductor wet chemicals (acids, bases and solvents) totaled $850M, up 13% over the 2009 low, according to a recent report. The 2011 outlook is for 6% additional growth, but recovery to the 2008 high of $968M won't occur until 2013. The semiconductor wet chemicals market is expected to grow to $1.08B by 2015, according to analyst forecasts. Mitsubishi's production of hydrogen peroxide in Japan, disrupted by the March, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, is expected to be back to full capacity this month. China's restrictions on fluorspar and phosphor mineral exports continue to put pressure on hydrofluoric and phosphoric acid manufacturers, while rising petroleum prices are increasing the cost of solvents and polyethylene containers. The global market is distributed among nine major players with 5% share or greater, led by BASF and Kanto in the first tier.

In a recent release, the global market value of electronic chemicals and materials was $28.5 billion in 2010. That value is projected to be $51.6 billion in 2015, after increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6%. The global market for electronic chemicals and materials can be broken down by product into seven segments – wafers; gases; polymers, including conductive polymers; photoresist chemicals; wet chemicals and solvents; chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) slurries; and miscellaneous chemicals, including metals. The segment made up of wafers was valued at $14.7 billion in 2010, and in 2015 should be worth $26.7 billion, yielding a CAGR of 12.7%. The segment made up of gases, worth $7.3 billion in 2010, should rise to $10 billion in 2015 at a CAGR of 6.5%.

Strong consideration needs to be given to on-line coatings which increase the cell performance, TCO, self-cleaning and anti-reflective. Factors driving this market represent concerns about energy security, energy prices, climate change and cost of carbon. Increased demand for electricity is a significant market trend. There is a need for replacing existing electricity generating capacity. Low iron solar glass technology gives solar panel and solar concentrator vendors the ability to build more efficient systems. Improved cost structures of the solar industry depend in part on improved efficiencies in low iron glass manufacturing. PV low iron glass represents 3% of the world glass production. Markets for low iron glass at $1.5 billion in 2010 are expected to reach $3.8 billion by 2017.

The photonic crystal component and module market can be broken down into eight segments – displays, optical fibers, LEDs, discrete and integrated optical components, image sensors, solar and PV cells, lasers and supercontinuum sources, and biosensors. The segment made up of displays is projected to be worth nearly $6.1 billion in 2016 after rising at a CAGR of $34.5 billion from its estimated 2011 value of nearly $1.4 billion. The segment made up of optical fibers is estimated to be worth nearly $2 billion in 2011, and in 2016 should be worth more than $10.8 billion, yielding a CAGR of 41.2%. The LEDs segment, estimated to be worth $983 million in 2011, should rise in 2016 to $8.1 billion at a CAGR of 52.5%.

The global chemical mechanical polishing and planarization (CMP) consumables market recovered from the 2008-2009 recession with a vengeance, 2 years ahead of schedule. 2010 CMP revenues were up 37% over 2009, returning to 2007 levels, according to "CMP Consumables 2011 Critical Materials Report." The CMP combined pad and slurry market this year is forecast to be $1.65 billion, rising through 2016 to $1.96 billion, a CAGR of 4.4%.

According to a new technical market research report, the global market value for graphene-based products will be worth an estimated $67 million in 2015 and is expected to increase to $675.1 million in 2020, for a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 58.7%. The largest segment of the market, made up of capacitors, is expected to increase at a five-year CAGR of 67.2%, from $26 million in 2015 to $340 million in 2020. The second-largest segment, made up of structured materials, is expected to reach $91 million in 2020. The market in 2015 is expected to be $17.5 million. Thus, the five-year CAGR is projected to be 39.1%. The segment made up of displays is expected to be valued at $43.8 million in 2020. Its value in 2015 is expected to be negligible. The segment made up of photovoltaics is projected to be $7.5 million in 2015 and to increase to $35 million in 2020 at a CAGR of 36.1%.

In the present scenario (2010), the overall silicon photonics market is in the introductory stage. Companies such as Intel (U.S.), IBM (U.S.) and others are carrying out considerable research activities to come out with new products such as optical interconnects, and modulators based on silicon photonics technology. Companies such as Kotura (U.S.), Luxtera (U.S.), IBM (U.S.), Lightwire (U.S.), Intel (U.S.), and HP (U.S.) are some of the main contributors for the development of this market.