Technological developments in the electronics and semiconductor industries
have led to the creation of polymers that change shape on the application of
voltage. The biggest application for electro-active polymers (EAPs) lays in
their use in antistatic and electronic applications which is expected to drive
its market growth. Among all EAP applications market, the actuator segment is
witnessing high R&D activity and medical devices and robotics will be the
largest applications of EAP actuators. Actuators and sensors open up a huge
spectrum of applications in the fields of electronics, healthcare, sensing,
and solar energy generation. With the growing market for each of these
applications, EAP is set to become a mainstream market in the next five years.
However, the technical specifications for each application differ widely, and
extensive research and investments are still needed for developing
application-specific EAPs.
The global electro-active polymers product market is expected to be worth $3.4
billion by 2017 and is forecasted to grow by a CAGR of 7.7% from 2012 - 2017.
The conductive plastics segment contributed approximately 84% to the overall
electro-active polymer market in 2011, mainly due to its extensive application
in electrostatic discharge and electromagnetic interference. As the EAP market
is still in the early phase of its growth, it presents many advantages for the
early movers. As there are not many players in the market, detailed knowledge
of the competitors will be crucial for the success of each company.
The report covers major electro-active polymers which include primarily
conductive plastics, inherently conductive polymers (ICPs), and inherently
dissipative polymers (IDPs) segments. It also studies other electro-active
polymers such as dielectric elastomers and ferroelectrets. The report analyses
the market for electro-active polymers with respect to market drivers,
opportunities, and winning imperatives related to the industry.
The qualitative analysis of electro-active polymers with respect to its
characteristics, parental structure, and business processes which are use by
different companies is done in an elaborative manner. Based on the
applications, the global electro-active polymers market is segmented as
antistatic packaging, protection against EMI/ESD, capacitors, batteries,
sensors, solar cells, actuators, organic transistors, plastics coated with
electrostatic paints, and textiles and fabrics. Electro-active polymers market
has been gaining importance with its major application in the areas of ESD/EMI
(electrostatic discharge/electromagnetic interference), medical devices, and
biomimetics.
The major devices used for the application of electro-active polymers are
medical devices, smart fabrics, digital mechtronics, and high strain sensors.
The report gives a qualitative analysis about these devices with respect to
their characteristics and applications. Market analysis of patents for the
last 5 years is also done in the market study.
The global electro-active polymers application market is also segmented with
respect to different geographical regions including North America, Europe,
Asia, and ROW. The study analyzes the application market for these regions as
well and gives market value for different applications. Of the market studied,
North America is the largest market for electro-active polymers with an
estimated 65% of the global market revenue share in 2011 and is estimated to
reach $2.2 billion by 2017.
Scope of the report
The electro-active polymers market research report categorizes the global
market on the basis of types, applications and geography in each of the
following submarkets:
Types: Inherently conductive polymers, inherently dissipative
polymers, conductive plastics, and other electro-active polymers
Applications: Organic light emitting diode, capacitors, batteries,
sensors, solar cells, actuators, organic transistors, textiles and fabrics,
protection against EMI, protection against ESD, and antistatic packaging.
Geography: North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW
Sumary
The increasing need for greater sophistication in the automation industry and
in electronics protection is driving the market for low-cost, lightweight, and
low driving voltage materials. Advances in electronics and polymers
manufacturing technology have given rise to the concept of electro-active
polymers. These polymers began to be used as base materials for motion control
and protective applications as the use of mechanical moving parts reduced
efficiency and increased wear and tear. When compared with conventional
motion-generating devices, electro-active polymers provide equally good
efficiency and lower costs and power consumption.
The global electro-active polymer market revenue is estimated to be $2.2
billion in 2011. Majority of the electro-active polymer market is occupied by
conductive plastics which contributed approximately 84% in the overall
electro-active polymer market by revenue.
Among the electro-active polymer product types, the conductive plastic
generates maximum revenue. The conductive plastics segment contributed
approximately 84% to the overall electro-active polymer market in 2011, mainly
due to its extensive application in electrostatic discharge and
electromagnetic interference.
North America region is the largest market for electro-active polymer while
Europe and Asia region are the second and third largest market for
electro-active polymer. In terms of applications, protection against
electrostatic discharge (ESD) and electromagnetic interference (EMI),
antistatic packaging are the largest market for electro-active polymers.
Biomimetics is one of the major applications where use of electro-active
polymer is going to increase. It will help in addressing the global problem of
increasing healthcare costs.
Some of the major companies which deal in electro-active polymer market
include 3M (U.S.), Agfa-Gevaert N.V. (Belgium), Bayer MaterialScience AG
(Germany), Creganna (U.S.), Konarka Technologies Inc. (U.S.), Sigma-Aldrich
Corporation (U.S.), E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Eamex
Corporation (Japan), and Panasonic Corporation (Japan).
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 KEY TAKE-AWAYS
1.2 REPORT DESCRIPTION
1.3 MARKETS COVERED
1.4 STAKEHOLDERS
1.5 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1.5.1 MARKET SIZE
1.5.2 KEY DATA POINTS FROM SECONDARY SOURCES
1.5.3 KEY DATA POINTS FROM PRIMARY SOURCES
1.5.4 ASSUMPTIONS MADE FOR THE REPORT
2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
3 MARKET OVERVIEW
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 EAP PRODUCTION PROCESS
3.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION
3.4 BUSINESS & MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
3.5 ELECTRO-ACTIVE POLYMER CHARACTERISTICS
3.6 FACTORS INFLUENCING MARKET GROWTH
3.7 WINNING IMPERATIVES
3.7.1 RESEARCH & NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
3.8 MARKET DYNAMICS
3.8.1 DRIVERS
3.8.1.1 Low cost materials
3.8.1.2 Low driving voltage
3.8.1.3 Light weight & flexible products
3.8.2 RESTRAINT
3.8.2.1 EAP in Nascent Stage
3.8.3 OPPORTUNITIES
3.8.3.1 Biomimetic applications
3.8.3.2 Better surface conductivity
3.9 ELECTRO-ACTIVE POLYMER DEVICES
3.9.1 EAP MEDICAL DEVICES MARKET
3.9.2 EAP SMART FABRICS MARKET
3.9.3 EAP DIGITAL MECHATRONICS MARKET
3.9.4 EAP HIGH STRAIN SENSOR MARKET
3.10 PATENT ANALYSIS
4 ELECTRO-ACTIVE POLYMERS MARKET, BY TYPES
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 INHERENTLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS (ICP)
4.2.1 POLYTHIOPHENES
4.2.2 POLYANILINES
4.2.3 POLYPYRROLES
4.2.4 POLYACETYLENES
4.2.5 POLYPHENYLENE VINYLENE (PPV)
4.2.6 POLYFLUORENE
4.2.7 POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE (PPS)
4.2.8 POLYNAPHTHALENE
4.2.9 DOPING TECHNOLOGIES FOR ICPS
4.2.9.1 Chemical doping technology
4.2.9.2 Electrochemical doping technology
4.2.9.3 Types of dopants
4.2.10 TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF ICPS
4.2.10.1 Molecular weight
4.2.10.2 Improvement in thermal stability
4.2.10.3 Alloys and blends of ICP with resins
4.2.11 BENEFITS OF ICPS
4.2.11.1 Conductivity
4.2.11.2 Electrochromic effect
4.2.11.3 Electroluminescence effect
4.2.11.4 Photoconductivity effect
4.2.11.5 Thermochromic effects
4.3 INHERENTLY DISSIPATIVE POLYMERS
4.4 CONDUCTIVE PLASTICS
4.4.1 ESD/EMI COMPOUNDS
4.4.2 ANTISTATIC ADDITIVES
4.4.3 CARBON/METAL FIBERS
4.4.4 CARBON NANOTUBES
4.4.5 BLENDS OF CONDUCTIVE PLASTICS & POWDER COATINGS
4.5 DIELECTRIC ELASTOMERS
4.5.1 LOW POWER CONSUMPTION
4.5.2 HIGH FORCE-TO-WEIGHT RATIO
4.5.3 SILICONE ELASTOMERS
4.5.4 ACRYLATES
4.5.5 POLYURETHANES
4.6 FERROELECTRETS
4.6.1 POLYPROPYLENE
4.6.2 POLYCARBONATE
4.6.3 CYCLIC OLEFIN COPOLYMER (COC)
4.6.4 FLUORINATED ETHYLENE PROPYLENE
5 ELECTRO-ACTIVE POLYMERS MARKET, BY APPLICATIONS
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DIODES
5.3 CAPACITORS
5.3.1 INCREASED RESPONSE RATE
5.3.2 NO RISK OF BURSTING
5.4 BATTERIES
5.4.1 LITHIUM BATTERY
5.4.2 ALL-POLYMER BATTERY
5.4.3 BUTTON BATTERY
5.4.4 AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY
5.4.5 PORTABLE COMPUTER BATTERY
5.5 SENSORS
5.5.1 GAS SENSORS
5.5.2 ODOR SENSORS
5.5.3 CHEMICAL SENSORS
5.5.4 BIOSENSORS
5.6 SOLAR CELLS
5.7 ACTUATORS
5.8 ORGANIC/PLASTIC TRANSISTORS
5.9 TEXTILES & FABRICS
5.10 PROTECTION AGAINST ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI)
5.11 PROTECTION AGAINST ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)
Polyamide Market - By Type (Polyamide 6, Polyamide 6-6, Bio-Based Polyamide) & By Application (Automotives, Electrical, Machinery, Consumer Goods, Textiles & Sports Wear, Films and Coatings & Packaging) - Global Trends & Forecasts Up to 2018
