Global Glass-Filled Nylon Market - 2022-2029
Market Overview
The global glass-filled nylon market has reached US$ XX million in 2021 and is expected to reach US$ XX million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period 2022-2029.
Glass-filled nylon was one of the first polymers to incorporate small glass fibers into a polymer matrix. When compared to native polymers, glass-filled polymers are significantly stronger. Further, glass-filled polymers greatly increase stiffness, strength and hardness. The material is made by mixing powdered glass into nylon resin or extruding glass fibers.
Glass-filled nylon has a lower lubricated wear characteristic when compared to extruded or cast nylon. The stiffness and tensile strength of the produced material are up to 80% and 70% higher than normal nylon, respectively. In addition, it is abrasive and can cause galling on a variety of surfaces. Because glass-filled nylon is a tougher material, it is widely utilized for many minor specialized parts.
Market Dynamics
The surge in demand for 3D printing with rapid advancements in material composition, such as polymers and additives, drives the global glass-filled nylon market. However, the gears processing of glass-filled nylon impedes its market growth compared with other materials.
The surge in demand for 3D printing with rapid advancements in material composition, such as polymers and additive
According to a March 2019 Essentium survey, manufacturers employing additive manufacturing for full-scale production more than doubled in 2019 over 2018. As a result of manufacturers' rising number of industrial solutions brought to the market, there has been a wider acceptance of 3D printing across sectors.
Glass-filled nylon is particularly well-suited to technical applications requiring high rigidity, low heat distortion temperature and low abrasive wear. As a result, glass-filled nylon is widely used in 3D printing, additive manufacturing and other applications that require strength, stiffness and load-bearing capability.
The material is used in various industries, including construction and the automotive industry, to create intricate and sophisticated structures. Expedition and London Engineering, for example, collaborated with ARRK to successfully construct a 3D printed energy-efficient roof made of Glass-Filled Nylon material.
The growing demand has led companies to invest in the business and launch new products that augment the market growth. For instance, in March 2022, Formlabs launched Nylon 12 GF Powder, the new high-performance glass-filled nylon material. The product is ideal for 3D printing engineering and manufacturing functional prototypes and end-of-life parts that must be thermally stable and stiff. In addition, Formlabs' Nylon 12 GF powder enables 3D printing of thermally stable parts that preserve dimensional accuracy under load.
Shortcomings in the gears processing of glass-filled nylon, compared with other materials, impede its market growth
Glass fiber reinforced polyamide 6/66 has disadvantages in gear processing compared to other materials. If the gear's main need is excellent wear resistance, glass fiber reinforced nylon isn't as good as POM in terms of cost. In terms of transmission accuracy, glass fiber reinforced nylon is hygroscopic, has poorer dimensional stability than copper and aluminum and is not as accurate as car parts, transmission gear bushings, printers and toy motors.
Moreover, plain engineering plastics are typically inexpensive to purchase. On the other hand, glass-filled technical polymers such as nylon are typically costly. The addition of glass powder to the polymer during the production process may incur a higher cost.
COVID-19 Impact Analysis
COVID-19 provided plastics an image revamp among consumers at the outset; there is now a widespread belief that plastic products are safer and cleaner than the recycled and reusable alternatives previously touted and that they are at the forefront of the fight to contain the spread of contagion. Moreover, increased spending on household cleaning, hygiene and personal protection items and increasing domestic food consumption due to a more home-based lifestyle will benefit plastics.
However, because the pandemic would wreak havoc on the economy and supply chain, it would influence associated plastics usage. In addition, apart from these sectors of the economy, large industries such as automotive experienced significant challenges.
Segment Analysis
Based on type, the global glass-filled nylon market is segmented into polyamide 6, polyamide 66 and others.
Polyamide 6 is an abrasion-resistant and robust material. The material can be molded at a lower temperature and with less mold shrinkage because it is slightly less crystalline. The material has a lower modulus than polyamide 66 and quickly absorbs moisture. The moisture acts as a plasticizer, lowering the tensile strength and stiffness while increasing the elongation. While absorbed moisture diminishes several qualities, moisture's plasticizing impact gives nylon some of its tenacity. Significant increases in impact strength and general energy absorption qualities occur when moisture content rises.
Stagnoli TG s.r.l. developed PA6 + GF, a polyamide resin with glass fiber. Mechanical qualities such as tensile, flexural and compressive strength are much higher than regular polyamides. The characteristics make PA6 + GF ideal for gears and mechanical parts that need much effort.
Geographical Analysis
The global glass-filled nylon market is segmented into North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa based on geography.
Asia-Pacific occupies a significant proportion of the global glass-filled nylon market because of important end-user industries such as electrical & electronics and automotive. In Asia-Pacific, China is a major consumer of glass-filled nylon. The country has become the single largest glass-filled nylon user in the electrical and electronics industry, likely to strengthen its market position.
Moreover, China has the world's largest vehicle manufacturing industry. However, in 2018, the industry had a slowdown, with output and sales falling. A similar pattern occurred in 2019, with production falling by 7.5%.
Competitive Landscape
The global glass-filled nylon market is moderately consolidated and competitive with multinational businesses. Major companies include Lanxess AG, BASF SE, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Dow, Royal DSM N.V., Ensinger GmbH, Arkema, SABIC, Evonik and Ascend Performance Materials, among others. Further, product development, technological advancement, acquisition, merger and collaboration are the primary growth methods these companies use to improve their geographical presence to address the growing demand for glass-filled nylon.
Lanxess AG
Overview: Lanxess AG is a Germany-based specialty chemicals firm headquartered in Cologne, Germany. It was established in 2004 after Bayer AG's chemicals division and sections of its polymers business were spun off. The company is engaged in additives for lubricants and fire retardants.
Product Portfolio: LANXESS AG offers polyamide 6 compounds, ECOBKV30H2.0, ECOBKV35H2.0 and ECOBKV60XF, including 30%, 35% and 60% by weight of recycled fiber generated from glass waste, respectively.
Key Development:
In October 2018, LANXESS AG introduced a new polyamide to expand its product development capabilities and meet the growing demand for glass-filled nylon.
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Target Audience 2022
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