Global Polymer Fillers Market - 2022-2029

Market Overview

The global polymer fillers market size was worth US$ XX million in 2021 and is estimated to reach US$ XX million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of XX % during the forecast period (2022-2029).

Minerals, diatomaceous earth and talc are fillers used to minimize polymers' costs. Polymers with fibrous reinforcements, such as glass and carbon fibers, are stiffened and strengthened. Both components tend to enhance the viscosity of the polymer, particularly at low shear rates, causing yield stress to occur. As the viscosity reaches that of the pure resin at high shear rates, the impact becomes less significant. It typically leads to wear of the screws, which eventually reduces the extruder's performance and the pressure dips involved with treating these composite materials.

The impact becomes less significant as the viscosity approaches the neat resin at high shear rates. They tend to lead to wear of the screws, which eventually reduces the extruder's performance and the pressure dips associated with processing these composite materials. By replacing pricey resins with polymer filler, also known as an additive, the cost of the polymer is reduced while the physical and chemical qualities are improved. Polymer filler can be solid, liquid, or gaseous and improves composite moldability, stability, impact resistance and strength.

Market Dynamics

During the forecasted time frame, an increase in polymer filler penetration in various end-user sectors such as automotive, packaging and electrical & electronics is likely to drive market growth. Furthermore, the use of polymer filler in the fabrication of interior and exterior elements is expected to drive market expansion because of its heat resistance and lightweight. Furthermore, the construction segment of the market is expected to rise rapidly due to the growing demand for environmentally friendly components in construction building materials.

Increasing application of building & construction across the world

Building and construction activities are expanding their demand for polymer fillers to avoid using expensive binder adhesives and materials by using polymer filler as a concrete binder material. Additionally, the polymer filler structure provides improved mechanical characteristics, compressive strength and flexural strength. According to U.S. Census Bureau, total construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,366,697 in February 2020, 6.0 percent higher than the February 2019 rate of 1,288,951.

According to the European Commission, Germany's total building investment climbed by 9.5 percent between 2008 and 2015. The Indian government has started programs such as "100 smart cities" and "Housing for All by 2022," which are projected to drive the residential construction market in India over the forecast period. Building and construction activity is also rising due to different government programs such as Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). The demand for polymer fillers will rise as building and construction activities expand, which will drive the polymer fillers market during the forecast period.

Unique properties of polymer fillers

Physical features of polymer filler include lower heat expansion and polymerization shrinkage. It can be organic or inorganic, with organic polymer fillers such as carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers and carbon black & wood fiber being examples of organic polymer fillers. Talc, glass fiber, boron, aluminum trihydrate and other inorganic polymer fillers.

Filled polymers are utilized in applications requiring electrical insulation and conductivity (e.g., cable coating). As a result, their impact on composites' electrical characteristics could be significant. Conductivity and dielectric characteristics are the most interesting qualities. Most fillers have a low electrical conductivity, which is advantageous for using a composite's insulating capabilities.

High production costs

Traditional fillers are finely crushed inorganic elements like chalk, silica, and clay in most cases. The material's physical properties are altered due to the presence of filler. Hardness and rigidity are often increased while impact and tensile properties are diminished. Carbonate, carbon black, glass fibers and calcium talc are some traditional fillers that have been an important part of many applications throughout history, particularly for polymers' physical and mechanical properties, increasing carbon filler pricing. The methods employed to create polymer fillers, such as solvent processing, LBL assembly and electrospinning, are not commercially viable.

Furthermore, the operating cost of polymer fillers is high since the processing requires bigger filler loading for property enhancement, which causes melt movement and processing difficulties because of the filled materials' high viscosity. As a result, the rising cost of fillers such as carbon and the high cost of filler processing may restrain the growth of the polymer filler market in the coming years. Nonetheless, advancements in product innovations and various investments from industry participants are expected to open up new prospects in the future years.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

A triple whammy has hammered the automotive industry due to the COVID-19 outbreak: manufacturing closures, supply chain disruptions and demand drop. Due to the restrictions on commodity import and export, the automobile industry is experiencing challenges such as delays in acquiring polymer fillers from manufacturers.

The pandemic has had a significant impact on the automotive industry since manufacturing has been disrupted, resulting in a significant loss in the whole automotive sector. The need for polymer filler has decreased dramatically due to the drop in vehicle production. Furthermore, because all building and construction activities have been halted until the epidemic has passed, no new orders can be taken, nor can existing ones be finished, negatively affecting the market.

Segment Analysis

By end-user, the polymer fillers market is segmented into automobile, building & construction, electricals & electronics, industrial products, packaging and others.

Building & construction to drive the segment's growth

Polymer filler is a substance that is added to the polymer to minimize the cost of the compound while improving its physical and chemical qualities by substituting expensive resins. Growing demand for environmentally friendly construction materials is driving up demand for polymer fillers in the building & construction industry, propelling the market forward during the forecast period.

Furthermore, because calcium carbonate fillers are becoming more popular in construction applications, the polymer filler market will expand rapidly. Furthermore, due to the rising population, fast industrialization and urbanization, the building & construction business are expanding rapidly. It is projected to boost polymer filler demand and, as a result, the polymer fillers market.

Geographical Analysis

Asia-growing Pacific's demand for high-strength, lightweight materials

The strong demand in Asia-Pacific is attributed to recent growth in the building, construction and packaging industries. The polymer fillers market is expected to be driven by rapid industrialization in India and China. The Indian government has implemented investment promotion schemes to help enterprises involved in polymer and composite manufacturing. The increased demand for high-strength, low-weight materials in electric vehicles to improve efficiency will likely drive up polymer filler demand in the region.

Furthermore, the demand for polymer fillers is increasing in packaging applications since packaging materials created with polymer fillers are easy to close and help keep food fresh for extended periods. According to OICA, automotive production climbed by 8.0 percent, 9.0 percent, 10.3 percent and 12.2 percent in 2018 compared to the previous year in India, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, respectively, due to rising per capita income. China is the world's largest automotive market, according to the International Trade Administration (ITA), and the Chinese government expects 35 million automobiles to be produced by 2025.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the country sold over 27 million vehicles in 2018. Polymer fillers like polyamide and polyvinyl are commonly utilized to produce automobile components like pipes, doors, bearings, gears, etc. As a result, as automation production rises, demand for polymer fillers would rise, propelling the polymer filler market in the region during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

Due to the increased need for introducing new and innovative goods from the key end-use sectors, the worldwide polymer fillers industry is projected to stay under pressure. Alternative materials such as scrap or waste materials are expected to pose a greater threat to market participants. In concrete production, scrap or waste materials are used as fillers. The polymer fillers industry is highly fragmented because of the numerous manufacturers and wide product differentiation.

Product launches, product approvals, and other organic growth tactics such as patents and events are being prioritized by many companies. Acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations were viewed as inorganic growth strategies. The efforts have cleared the way for market participants to grow their businesses and client base.

Minerals Technology Inc., for example, has a strong position in the polymer filler industry with precipitated calcium carbonate and bentonite. It is concentrating on expanding its market reach through mergers and acquisitions. With the regional expansion and new product development, the acquisition of AMCOL provided the company with new growth options.

Major global Polymer Fillers market companies include Imerys S.A., Lkab Group, Minerals Technologies Inc., Omya AG, 20 Micron Ltd., Hoffman Minerals, GCR Group, Unimin Corporation, Quarzwerke Group and Karntner Montanindustrie Gesellschaft M.B.H.

LKAB Minerals

Overview: LKAB Minerals is a global leader in the industrial minerals sector, with leading positions in various product categories. LKAB Minerals is a subsidiary of LKAB, a Swedish state-owned firm that is a global leader in producing highly improved iron ore products. LKAB began operations in 1890 and now produces almost 27 million tonnes of iron ore products, minerals, services and high-tech goods for mining and other industries.

Product Portfolio: The company provides a variety of high-quality minerals to the polymer sector, including:

MagniF is a product line made from natural iron oxide Magnetite designed specifically for use as a functional filler in polymers and coatings.

UltraCarb is a halogen-free fire retardant filler made from naturally occurring combinations of two minerals: hydromagnesite and huntite. It is used in polymers and rubbers.

MicaFort, Muscovite and Phlogopite Micas are mineral fillers used in plastics and coatings applications.

Key Development: Francis Flower has been acquired by LKAB Minerals, which will take over control on December 3rd, 2018. LKAB Minerals will conclude a cash deal transaction to acquire full ownership of Francis Flower, pending merger clearance. The acquisition of Francis Flower accelerates the company's growth in the Industrial Minerals market. Increased iron ore output is one component of LKAB's growth strategy, but expanding its other operations is vital for creating a better balance among the divisions and making it less vulnerable to the iron ore market volatility.

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Visualize the composition of the polymer fillers market segmentation by product, end-user and region, highlighting the critical commercial assets and players.

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Target Audience 2022

Polymer Fillers Service Providers/ Buyers

Industry Investors/Investment Bankers

Education & Research Institutes

Emerging Companies

Polymer Fillers Manufacturers