The global market for various carbon nanotubes (CNT) grades was $192
million in 2011. In 2012, it is estimated to generate nearly $239 million in
revenues, and projected to grow over the next five years at a compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 22.4%, reaching $527 million by 2016.
The global market for multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is estimated
to rise from $219 million in 2012 to $292 million in 2016, a CAGR of 9.1%
between 2011 and 2016.
The global market for few-walled carbon nanotubes (FWNTs) is estimated to
reach $1.8 million in 2012 and $120 million in 2016, a CAGR of 131.6% between
2011 and 2016.
SUMMARY FIGURE
GLOBAL MARKET FOR CNT GRADES BASED ON COMMITTED PRODUCTION,
2011-2016 ($ MILLIONS)
Source: BCC Research
MOTIVATION
Among the numerous categories in the evolving field of newly synthesized
nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are perhaps among the most dynamic and
undergoing the most rapid pace of development. The past five years have
witnessed relentless growth in the research, development and technological
understanding of these remarkable materials. Universities, small businesses
and start-ups, as well as large corporations, have continued to probe and
exploit numerous commercial possibilities for these fascinating materials. As
a result, the list of product applications is expanding considerably and is
projected to do so well into the future.
The most tangible evidence for growth and interest is reflected by the
emergence of new CNT producers now capable of offering CNTs in
commercial-scale quantities - in kilograms, tonnes and even hundreds of
tonnes, depending on the specific grade - at more affordable and increasingly
competitive unit pricing. In addition, after several years of incubation,
there is a new breed of more mature university spin-offs, or nanotechnology
companies, targeting specific application sectors. Additional evidence of
growth is the increasing presence of larger, more established corporations
that recognize the future market opportunities offered by CNTs. Finally, over
the past five years, there has been phenomenal growth in patent activity. In
2010 alone, the number of issued CNT-related U.S. patents reached 1,585, an
increase of 54% over the previous year. In 2011, this increased more
moderately, by 7.7%, but nonetheless reached an annual output record of 1,707.
For patents pending, the situation is even more dramatic, with a cumulative
backlog from 2001 to 2011 now totaling 16,775. For the current review period
(2010 to 2011 total output alone reached 54% of the previous period (2001 to
2009).
In view of the technical momentum - representing a multibillion-dollar
technology investment - and the enormous business potential, this report
provides a timely update on CNTs - their level of technical maturity, where
they are starting to penetrate the marketplace, and when and where the
broadening market unravels.
OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT
The primary objectives of this report are threefold:
Assess the current state-of-the-art in CNT production and technical
applications understanding.
Identify the current players seeking to exploit their unique properties.
Evaluate actual or impending markets in terms of the technical readiness
of CNTs and the projected market revenues.
SCOPE OF REPORT
This updated report is divided into the following nine major chapters:
CHAPTER THREE - TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW defines, outlines the history,
describes the production methodology, identifies the unique properties of
various forms of CNTs and emphasizes the major application challenges.
CHAPTER FOUR - PATENT ANALYSIS provides an extensive search/analysis of
U.S. issued and pending patents (along with Canadian, European and WPTO
databases where there is no USPTO presence), a collation of the main
technical/application sectors and identifies the most active organizations -
U.S. and foreign - driving CNT technology.
CHAPTER FIVE - INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS identifies
current producers, progress in continuous production scale-up, market
segmentation and an industry profile covering the major players.
CHAPTER SIX - MARKETS BY APPLICATION represents the body of the report
assessing the latest progress and technical readiness in the major application
sectors of composites, electronics, energy storage, membranes, sensors and
other applications.
CHAPTER SEVEN - GLOBAL MARKET ANALYSIS estimates five-year potential
revenues of all notable CNT producers.
CHAPTER EIGHT - NORTH AMERICAN MARKET ANALYSIS estimates five-year
potential revenues of U.S. and Canadian CNT producers.
CHAPTER NINE - EUROPEAN MARKET ANALYSIS estimates five-year potential
revenues of European CNT producers.
CHAPTER TEN - ASIAN MARKET ANALYSIS estimates five-year potential revenues
of Asian CNT producers.
CHAPTER ELEVEN - MARKET PULL: PROGNOSIS FOR GLOBAL CNT APPLICATIONS
identifies the most promising applications realizable based on the leading
proponents, technical readiness and market interest.
METHODOLOGY AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION
This report is primarily derived from the enormous amount of patent and
technical literature relating to CNTs disclosed in the public domain. In
addition, complementary information has also been drawn from the business
community, such as company investment news, company profiles, press releases
and personal telephone interviews with selected companies.
AUTHOR'S CREDENTIALS
John Oliver, the author of this report, is the founder of Innov8
Solutions, which provides advanced materials consultation services to
industrial clients. He has more than 30 years of industrial R&D experience in
surface and colloid science spanning a wide range of materials technology.
Primarily, working as a senior scientist at Xerox Research Centre of Canada,
he developed an invaluable understanding in advanced materials used in digital
printing technologies such as xerography and ink-jet printing (IJP). In the
past 10 years through his involvements with the Alberta Research Council and
several Alberta universities, his interests have evolved into the realm of
nanomaterials and microsystems device integration. He has a Ph.D. in Physical
Chemistry from McGill University, and a BSc degree in Chemistry from Surrey
University, U.K. His publications include more than 40 technical
peer-reviewed technical articles and 20 patents.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Global Markets and Technologies for Carbon Nanotubes
Chapter - 1: INTRODUCTION - Complimentary
MOTIVATION
OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT
SCOPE OF REPORT
CONTRIBUTION OF THE STUDY AND TARGET AUDIENCE
METHODOLOGY AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION
AUTHOR'S CREDENTIALS
RELATED BCC REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS
BCC ONLINE SERVICES
DISCLAIMER
Chapter - 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Table Summary: GLOBAL MARKET REVENUES FOR CNT GRADES BASED ON COMMITTED
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES, THROUGH 2016
Figure Summary: GLOBAL MARKET FOR CNT GRADES BASED ON COMMITTED
PRODUCTION, 2011-2016
Chapter - 3: TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
WHAT ARE CNTS?
A BRIEF HISTORY OF NANOTUBES
COMPARISON OF CARBON COMPOUNDS
PROPERTIES OF CNTS
APPLICATIONS OF CNTS
OTHER TYPES OF NANOTUBE COMPOUNDS
NANOTUBE PRODUCTION
PURIFICATION AND PRODUCT QUALITY CONTROL
CNT APPLICATIONS INTEGRATION
CNT GROWTH AND DEVICE FABRICATION
OTHER FORM FACTORS
Figure 1: FORMATION OF A SWNT STRUCTURE
Figure 2: CNT STRUCTURES
Chapter - 4: PATENT ANALYSIS
RATIONALE AND METHODOLOGY
U.S. PATENTS ISSUED
U.S. PATENTS PENDING
CHALLENGES IN PATENTING NANOTECHNOLOGY
Chapter - 5: INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
OVERVIEW
INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
NANOTUBE PRODUCERS
Chapter - 6: MARKETS BY APPLICATION
COMPOSITES
ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS
ENERGY CONVERSION AND STORAGE
MEMBRANES: FILTRATION AND SEPARATION MEDIA
SENSORS
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Table 46: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CNTS COMPARED WITH OTHER FIBERS
Table 47: CNT COMPOSITES: RANGE OF POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS
Table 48: CNT COMPOSITES: PROPERTIES ENDOWED
Table 49: MECHANICAL PROPERTY ENHANCEMENTS IN VARIOUS CNT COMPOSITES
Chapter - 7: GLOBAL MARKET ANALYSIS
TECHNOLOGY PUSH
MARKET PULL
Chapter - 8: NORTH AMERICAN MARKET ANALYSIS
CNT COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION AND ESTIMATED SALES REVENUES
Chapter - 9: EUROPEAN MARKET ANALYSIS
CNT COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION AND ESTIMATED SALES REVENUES
Chapter - 10: ASIAN MARKET ANALYSIS
CNT COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION AND ESTIMATED SALES REVENUES
Chapter - 11: MARKET PULL: PROGNOSIS FOR GLOBAL CNT APPLICATIONS
POLYMER COMPOSITES
MARKET PROSPECTS FOR CNTS IN OTHER MATRIX COMPOSITES
MARKET PROSPECTS FOR CNTS IN ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS
FE DISPLAYS AND RELATED DEVICES
MARKET PROSPECTS FOR CNTS IN ENERGY APPLICATIONS
MARKET PROSPECTS FOR CNTS IN OTHER APPLICATIONS
Chapter - 12: APPENDIX
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
UNITS
List of Tables
Summary Table: GLOBAL MARKET REVENUES FOR CNT GRADES BASED ON COMMITTED
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES, THROUGH 2016
Table 1: CHRONOLOGY OF SOME CNT LANDMARK DEVELOPMENTS, 1953 - 2012
Table 2: SOME COMPARATIVE PROPERTIES OF CARBON ALLOTROPES
Table 3: SOME CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF CNTS
Table 4: COMPARATIVE PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT CNTS AND CFS
Table 5: DIVERSE RANGE OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS FOR CNTS
Table 6: SOME EXAMPLES OF OPTIMUM FORMS OF CNTS REQUIRED FOR DIFFERENT
APPLICATIONS
Table 7: PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF SOME INORGANIC NANOTUBES
Table 8: COMPARISON OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF CNT BATCH PRODUCTION
TECHNOLOGIES
Table 9: SYNTHETIC PROCESS FACTORS AFFECTING CNT GROWTH
Table 10: COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CNT PROCESSES
Table 11: COMPARISON OF SWNT CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
Table 12: COMMON CNT CHEMICAL PURIFICATION PROCESSES, OUTCOMES AND
DISADVANTAGES
Table 13: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT IN SEPARATION, PURIFICATION, CAPPING
AND UNCAPPING OF CNTS BASED ON U.S. PATENTS
Table 14: LEADING U.S. RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS SPEARHEADING CNT SYNTHESIS
AND APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT
Table 15: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHEMICAL FUNCTIONALIZATION OF CNTS AND
POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS
Table 16: EXEMPLARY U.S. PATENTS RELATING TO CNT CHEMICAL
FUNCTIONALIZATION
Table 17: ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING SURFACE FUNCTIONALIZED CNT DISPERSIONS
AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
Table 18: NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS IN SORTING ELECTRONIC GRADE CNTS
Table 19: EXEMPLARY U.S. PATENTS RELATING TO SELF-ASSEMBLY AND
ORGANIZATION OF CNTS
Table 20: SCALABLE DEVICE INTEGRATION OF CNTS
Table 21: EXEMPLARY U.S. PATENTS RELATING TO THE USE OF CNTS AS
NANOTEMPLATES
Table 22: RECENT RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS IN OTHER CNT VARIANTS
Table 23: INDUSTRIAL SECTORS AND EXEMPLARY APPLICATIONS EMERGING FROM
ISSUED U.S. CNT PATENTS, 1994 - 2009
Table 24: LEADING SMALL U.S. BUSINESSES WITH CNT ISSUED AND PENDING
PATENT APPLICATIONS, 2010-NOVEMBER 22, 2011
Table 25: OTHER SMALL U.S. BUSINESSES WITH MULTIPLE CNT ISSUED AND
PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS, 2010-NOVEMBER 22, 2011
Table 26: LEADING LARGE U.S. BUSINESSES WITH CNT ISSUED AND PENDING
PATENT APPLICATIONS, 2010-NOVEMBER 22, 2011
Table 27: OTHER LARGE U.S. BUSINESSES WITH MULTIPLE CNT ISSUED AND
PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS, 2010-NOVEMBER 22, 2011
Table 28: CNT ISSUED AND PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS AMONG LEADING U.S.
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, 2010-NOVEMBER 1, 2011
Table 29: U.S. GOVERNMENT AND OTHER RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS WITH CNT
ISSUED AND PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS, 2010-NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Table 30: CNT ISSUED AND PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS FOR LEADING
JAPANESE ORGANIZATIONS, 2010-NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Table 31: U.S. CNT ISSUED AND PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS FOR LEADING
KOREAN, TAIWANESE AND CHINESE ORGANIZATIONS, 2010-NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Table 32: CNT ISSUED AND PENDING PATENTS FOR LEADING ORGANIZATIONS IN
EUROPE AND OTHER COUNTRIES, 2010 TO NOVEMBER 24, 2011
Table 33: INFLUENTIAL PLAYERS INVOLVED IN LARGE-SCALE CNT PRODUCTION AND
MARKET EXPLOITATION
Table 34: INFLUENTIAL PLAYERS INVOLVED IN SMALL-SCALE CNT PRODUCTION
AND/OR SPECIALIZED MARKET EXPLOITATION
Table 35: MARKET SEGMENTATION OF CNT INDUSTRY
Table 36: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN COMMERCIALIZING BAYER MATERIALSCIENCE
MWNTS
Table 37: SWENT'S LATEST COMMERCIAL SWNT DEVELOPMENTS: OCTOBER
2009-OCTOBER 2011
Table 38: UNIDYM'S LATEST COMMERCIAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS: 2010 - 2011
Table 99: LEADING ORGANIZATIONS PATENTING U.S. CNT FUEL CELL
ENHANCEMENTS, 2002 - DECEMBER 30, 2006
Table 100: PATENT ACTIVITY IN CNT-BASED FUEL CELL APPLICATIONS AMONG
U.S. ORGANIZATIONS, 2007 - DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 101: PATENT ACTIVITY IN U.S. CNT-BASED FUEL CELL APPLICATIONS
AMONG FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS, 2007-DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 102: EARLY PATENT ACTIVITY IN U.S. CNT-BASED HYDROGEN STORAGE
APPLICATIONS, 1997 - APRIL 2006
Table 103: LEADING U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENT ACTIVITY IN U.S. CNT-BASED
HYDROGEN STORAGE APPLICATIONS, 2007 - DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 104: PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES
Table 105: ADVANTAGES OF SUPERCAPACITOR ELECTRICAL STORAGE DEVICES
COMPARED WITH BATTERIES
Table 106: COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF BATTERIES VERSUS CAPACITORS
Table 107: U.S. PATENT ACTIVITY IN U.S. CNT-BASED EDL CAPACITORS AND
APPLICATIONS, 1997 - DECEMBER 30, 2006
Table 108: LEADING ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN U.S. CNT-BASED EDL
CAPACITOR PATENT ACTIVITY, 2007 - DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 109: ACADEMIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN CNT-BASED SOLAR CELLS
Table 110: MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CNT-BASED SOLAR CELLS, 2010 TO
2012
Table 111: CNT PATENT ACTIVITY IN SOLAR CELL APPLICATIONS, 1997 -
DECEMBER 30, 2006
Table 112: PATENT ACTIVITY LEADERS IN CNT-BASED SOLAR CELL APPLICATIONS,
2007 - DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 113: PATENT ACTIVITY IN U.S. CNT-BASED APPLICATIONS USED IN OTHER
ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS, 2007-DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 114: ATTRACTIVE PROPERTIES OF CNTS AS SEPARATION MEMBRANES
Table 115: ORGANIZATIONS WITH U.S. PATENT ACTIVITY IN CNT MEMBRANES,
FILTRATION AND SEPARATION MEDIA, 2007-DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 116: RESEARCH AND COMMERCIAL PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENTS OF VARIOUS
CNT-BASED MEMBRANE SEPARATION TECHNOLOGIES
Table 117: TYPES OF CNT SENSORS
Table 118: RECENT TYPES OF CNT BIOSENSOR SYSTEMS
Table 119: KEY PROPERTIES OF CNTS EXPLOITED IN SENSOR APPLICATIONS
Table 120: LEADING ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN U.S. CNT-SENSOR PATENT
ACTIVITY, 2007 - DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 121: POTENTIAL USES OF CNTS IN THE BIOMEDICAL AREA
Table 122: RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS IN CNT BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS, PRIOR
TO 2007
Table 123: RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS IN CNT BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS,
2007-2009
Table 124: RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS IN CNT BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS, 2010 -
2011
Table 125: U.S. PATENT ACTIVITY LEADERS IN CNT CATALYST SUPPORTS, 2007 -
DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 126: APPLICATIONS OF CNTS IN PHOTOCATALYTIC SYSTEMS
Table 127: U.S. CNT PATENT ACTIVITY INVOLVING ACTUATORS, INSTRUMENTS AND
MANIPULATORS, 2009 - DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 128: U.S. PATENT ACTIVITY IN CNT ENHANCEMENTS IN OIL RECOVERY,
2010 - DECEMBER 29, 2011
Table 129: LEADING ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN VARIOUS CNT-BASED SECURITY
APPLICATIONS
Table 130: GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR MWNT ANNUAL PRODUCTION AND
REVENUES: TIER 1 COMPANIES, THROUGH 2016
Table 131: GLOBAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION COMMITMENT FOR COMMERCIAL SWNTS AND
REVENUES: TIER 1 COMPANIES, THROUGH 2016
Table 132: FORECAST FOR SPECIALTY FWNTS PRODUCTION AND REVENUES, THROUGH
2016
Table 133: COMMERCIAL PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENTS IN CNT POLYMER COMPOSITES
Table 134: COMMERCIAL PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENTS IN OTHER MATRIX COMPOSITES
Table 135: COMMERCIAL PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENTS IN ELECTRONICS
Table 136: COMMERCIAL PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENTS IN ENERGY
Table 137: COMMERCIAL PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENTS IN OTHER APPLICATIONS
Table 138: ANNUAL PRODUCTION COMMITMENT AND REVENUES FOR U.S. COMMERCIAL
MWNT PRODUCERS: TIER 1 COMPANIES, THROUGH 2016
Table 139: ANNUAL PRODUCTION COMMITMENT AND REVENUES OF U.S. COMMERCIAL
SWNT PRODUCERS: TIER 1 COMPANIES, THROUGH 2016
Table 140: FORECAST FOR NORTH AMERICAN SPECIALTY FWNTS PRODUCTION:
REVENUES, THROUGH 2016
Table 141: OTHER COMPANIES AIDING GLOBAL CNT COMMERCIALIZATION
Table 142: EUROPEAN PRODUCTION COMMITMENT AND REVENUES OF COMMERCIAL
MWNTS: TIER 1 COMPANIES, THROUGH 2016
Table 143: EUROPEAN ANNUAL PRODUCTION COMMITMENT OF COMMERCIAL SWNTS AND
REVENUES: TIER 1 THOMAS SWAN, THROUGH 2016
Table 144: JAPANESE ANNUAL COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION COMMITMENT AND REVENUES
FOR MWNTS: TIER 1 SHOWA DENKO COMPANY, THROUGH 2016
Table 145: UNCONFIRMED ANNUAL PRODUCTION COMMITMENT OF COMMERCIAL MWNTS:
TIER 2 ASIAN COMPANIES, 2011-2016
Table 146: UNCONFIRMED ASIAN COMMERCIAL SWNT PRODUCTION COMMITMENT: TIER
2 COMPANIES, 2011-2016
Table 147: PROS AND CONS FOR CNT FE DISPLAY MARKET
List of Figures
Summary Figure: GLOBAL MARKET FOR CNT GRADES BASED ON COMMITTED
PRODUCTION, 2011-2016
Figure 1: FORMATION OF A SWNT STRUCTURE
Figure 2: CNT STRUCTURES
Figure 3: CNT PATENTS ISSUED, 1994-2011
Figure 4: BREAKDOWN OF THE MAIN INDUSTRY/APPLICATION SECTORS DERIVED
FROM U.S. CNT ISSUED PATENTS, 1994-2004
Figure 5: BREAKDOWN OF THE MAIN INDUSTRY/APPLICATION SECTORS FROM U.S.
CNT ISSUED PATENTS, 2007-JUNE 30, 2009
Figure 6: U.S. AND FOREIGN CNT PATENTS ISSUED, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO
INDUSTRIAL/APPLICATIONS SECTORS, 1994 - 2002
Figure 7: U.S. AND FOREIGN CNT PATENTS ISSUED, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO
INDUSTRY/APPLICATION SECTOR, 2003-2004
Figure 8: U.S. AND FOREIGN CNT PATENTS ISSUED, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO
INDUSTRIAL/APPLICATION SECTOR, 2007 TO JUNE 30, 2009
Figure 9: U.S. VERSUS ASIAN CNT PATENTS ISSUED, 1994 - 2004
Figure 10: EUROPEAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES WITH U.S. CNT ISSUED PATENTS,
1994 - 2004
Figure 11: U.S. CNT PATENTS ISSUED: ASIA, 2007 - JUNE 30, 2009
Figure 12: U.S. CNT PATENTS ISSUED: EUROPEAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES, 2007 -
JUNE 30, 2009
Figure 13: U.S. CNT PATENTS ISSUED: ASIA, 2011 - 2012
Figure 14: U.S. CNT PATENTS ISSUED: EUROPEAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES, 2010 -
2011
Figure 15: LEADING U.S. STATES WITH U.S. CNT ISSUED PATENTS, 2009 -
NOVEMBER 21, 2011
Figure 16: GROWTH AND BACKLOG IN U.S. PATENTS FILED 2001-DECEMBER 29,
2011
Global Markets and Technologies for Carbon Nanotubes published by BCC Research in July 16, 2012. This report consists of 398 Pages and the price starts from US $ 5450.
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Press Release
Global Carbon Nanotube Production Revenues to See CAGR of 22.4% Through 2016
July 23rd, 2012
Global Information Inc. would like to present a new market research report, "Global Markets and Technologies for Carbon Nanotubes" by BCC Research.
Global revenues from carbon nanotube (CNT) production totaled $192 million in 2011, and are projected to reach $238.9 million in 2012, and $527 million in 2016, a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.4%.
The CNT market can be split into three segments based on grade: Multi-wall, few-wall, and single wall.
The multi-wall segment was valued at $189 million in 2011 and is expected to account for $292 million in 2016, a CAGR of 9.1%.
The few-wall segment, worth only $1.8 million in 2011, is expected to be worth $120 million in 2016, a CAGR of 131.6%.
The single-wall segment was valuedat $1.2 million in 2011, but by 2016 should be worth $115 million, another high CAGR at 149.1%.
Among the numerous categories in the evolving field of newly synthesized nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are perhaps among the most dynamic and undergoing the most rapid pace of development. The past five years have witnessed relentless growth in the research, development, and technological understanding of these remarkable materials. Universities, small businesses and start-ups, as well as large corporations, have continued to probe and exploit numerous commercial possibilities for these fascinating materials. As a result, the list of product applications is expanding considerably and is projected to do so well into the future.
In their simplest form, CNTs represent seamless cylinders of graphene film with diameters close to only 1 nanometer (nm). As such, they exhibit an unprecedented range of properties singularly unequaled by any other nanomaterials. They include, among many unusual properties, exceptional mechanical strength and flexibility, and high electrical and high thermal conductivity.
Until recently, CNTs were available only in limited quantities at exorbitant prices, and only really catering to the research community. Today, that has changed significantly. Large-scale quantities are now becoming available at annual production capacities, depending on the grade, in kilograms, tonnes (t), and even thousands of tonnes. Correspondingly, unit costs have plummeted, and, with the promise of market breakthroughs, are expected to decline further within the next five years. In tandem with the recent commercial availability of bulk quantities of CNTs, many industries are now seriously exploring new commercial market opportunities.
This report will give its audience:
An extensive patent analysis of relevant U.S. patents
An in-depth assessment of the unfolding commercial markets
A report of the progress in the synthesis and commercial scale-up of CNTs
An extensive compilation of the producers and end users dictating market development
A five-year projected market analysis of the emerging CNT industry.
This comprehensive technical and business assessment on the current status of the CNT industry should prove informative to nanomaterials manufacturers; investors seeking near-term commercialization opportunities; technologists confronted with nanomaterial device integration issues; and companies interested in exploiting revolutionary nanomaterials for advanced composites, biomedical, electronic, energy storage, membranes/separation, sensing, security, and other emerging applications.
