Fluorosurfactant Market Set to Witness High Growth Due to Wide Applications in Paints & Coatings Industry
Market Overview:
Fluorosurfactants are fluorocarbon-based surfactants that have exceptionally
low surface tension and strong water and oil repellency. They are primarily
used as processing aids in the production of fluoropolymers, paints &
coatings, adhesives, and other specialty chemicals. Fluorosurfactants improve
the wettability, leveling, and penetration of various paints and coatings. They
allow uniform spreading and coverage over surfaces with minimal quantity.
Fluorosurfactants also increase chemical resistance and corrosion protection of
coatings. Due to such advantages, fluorosurfactants find wide applications in
automotive, architectural, and industrial paints & coatings. The Global
fluorosurfactant market is estimated to be valued at US$ 684.6 Mn in 2024 and
is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.7% over the forecast period of 2024 to 2031.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the fluorosurfactant market include The Chemours
Company, Merck KGaA, The 3M Company, OMNOVA Solutions, Inc., Tyco International
Plc, Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., DIC Corporation, Innovative Chemical Technologies,
Inc., and Advanced Polymers, Inc. These players are focused on new product
launches and capacity expansions to gain a competitive edge in the market.
Key opportunities:
The increasing use of fluorosurfactants in firefighting applications presents
significant growth opportunities. Fluorosurfactants have high surface activity
and oil & water repellency properties allowing them to effectively
extinguish liquid fuel and polar solvent fires. The agricultural sector also
provides opportunities with the use of fluorosurfactants in agrochemical
formulations.
Global expansion:
Owing to increasing demand from end-use industries, key players are expanding
their global footprint through acquisitions. For instance, in 2020, Merck
acquired Versum Materials expanding its electronic materials portfolio. This
helped Merck gain access to fluoropolymers and fluorosurfactants production
capabilities in the United States.
Market drivers:
One of the key drivers for the fluorosurfactant market growth is the increasing
demand from the paints & coatings industry. Fluorosurfactants provide
advantages like better leveling, increased chemical resistance and corrosion
protection in paints & coatings. This demand from paints & coatings
industry is expected to continue driving market growth over the forecast
period.
Market restraint:
Stringent regulations pertaining to fluorinated chemicals and restrictions on
the use of long-chain fluorosurfactants are major restraints for the fluorosurfactant
market. Many countries have imposed restrictions on perfluorooctanoic acid
(PFOA) and related chemicals due to environmental and health concerns. This
regulatory pressure poses challenges to market growth.
Segment Analysis
The fluorosurfactant market is dominated by the firefighting foam sub-segment.
Fluorosurfactants are widely used to manufacture firefighting foams as they
have excellent ability to spread over flammable liquid surfaces and form thin
aqueous film that quenches the fire. The films formed by fluorosurfactants help
in cutting off oxygen supply to the flames, thereby effectively smothering
hydrocarbon fuel fires.
The paints & coatings sub-segment holds the second position in the global
fluorosurfactant market. Fluorosurfactants enhance the surface wetting
properties and reduce surface tension of paints & coatings. This helps in
increasing the coverage area while reducing the coating thickness.
Fluorosurfactants also improve the leveling and flow properties of paints and
coatings.
Global Analysis
The Asia Pacific region dominates the global fluorosurfactant market, both in
terms of value and volume. High economic growth, flourishing industries such as
automotive, construction and aerospace, coupled with improving standards of living
are driving the demand for fluorosurfactants in the Asia Pacific region. China
represents the largest market in the region, followed by Japan and India. The
increasing focus of manufacturers towards innovation and development of high
quality products is also supporting the growth of fluorosurfactant market in
the region. Europe holds the second position in the global market, owing to
presence of a large number of automotive companies. Stringent regulations
regarding low emissions and fuel efficiency are fueling the demand for
fluorosurfactants for application in paints & coatings and automotive
lubricants in the region.
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