Publisher's Synopsis
Worldwide the current consumption of thermoset resins across the whole industrial spectrum amounts to 21.6 million tonnes. Industry growth rates are forecast to be in excess of 2.5 percent per annum. The worldwide industry is thriving and producing lightweight, high performance, high quality products for an ever-expanding range of markets. Thermosets include a wide range of materials: acrylics, alkyds, amino resins, bismaleimides, epoxy, furane, phenolics, polyimides, unsaturated polyesters, polyurethanes and vinyl esters. New materials are being developed such as cyanate esters, silicones and arylzene resins, together with hybrid resins. This report focuses on the most widely used materials with shorter sections on speciality resins. The applications of thermosets are many and varied. One of the primary uses is as the matrix in composite materials. Composites are now accepted as high performance engineering materials in many fields such as automotive, aerospace and marine. They are made using a range of techniques, which are outlined in this report, from autoclave moulding to resin transfer moulding. Key developments and trends are indicated here. been rapid. For example, a few years ago adhesives were restricted to relatively low performance applications, while today the range of formulations makes it possible to assemble aircraft and automotive components. Construction is a major market. Resin consumption is difficult to estimate. However, available data can be extrapolated to obtain a feel for the market size. A large volume of thermosets is used in the coatings industry. This has undergone rapid change in recent years as manufacturers strive to reduce VOC emissions, by reducing the use of solvents and bringing in ultraviolet curing formulations. Recycling is another environmental issue that is being tackled by manufacturers. Thermoset materials are designed for a long lifetime and can therefore be difficult to break down. However, methods of re-use and recycling are available. Innovations in materials include the use of natural fibre reinforcement in composites and the application of biopolymers as the matrix materials. regions and worldwide as many companies produce their own resin in-house and major suppliers are generally reluctant to issue figures. However, the authors of this report have decades of experience. Trevor Starr has worked on market data for the thermoset industry for several years, compiling statistics for books. His expertise and knowledge have proven invaluable in assessing the current markets and potential future growth and developments in this Thermoset Resin Market Report.
