HCL LEACHING HIGH PURITY ALUMINA MARKET ANALYSIS

High purity alumina characterized with minimum concentration of 99.99% is high end form of aluminum oxide. Owing to its superior properties such as high purity, corrosion resistance and hardness, HCL leaching high purity alumina is extensively used as an essential material in LEDs and artificial sapphire glass. High purity alumina is produced by two methods namely hydrolysis and by leaching with hydrochloric acid. In hydrolysis method, aluminum oxide is produced from aluminum and alcohol. The aluminum oxide formed, further undergoes hydrolysis and calcination to obtain high purity alumina. The significance of this method is that the acid used in the process can be recovered and reused. Hydrochloric acid leaching method is on the verge of commercialization. With the success of HCL leaching method, the production cost of high purity alumina is expected to reduce significantly.

Demand for HCL leaching high purity alumina is expected to increase due to increasing adoption of LED products, smart watches, sapphire glass, and lithium-ion batteries. High purity alumina is also used in protective coatings for aircraft, aircraft engine, farm machinery, cars, and fuel cell. It is also used in production of scratch resistant semiconductor wafers, which are the basis of any electronic device. High purity alumina ceramic is also used in production of luminous tubes that are resistant to reaction with high temperature sodium vapor. 

HCL Leaching High Purity Alumina Market Taxonomy

On the basis of application, the global market is classified into:

• LED
• Sapphire
• Phosphor
• Semiconductor

On the basis of end use industry, the global market is segmented into:

• Electrical and electronics
• Medical
• Aerospace
• Others

On the basis of application, LED and sapphire segments are expected to collectively account for the highest share in terms of volume in the global HCL leaching high purity alumina market through 2024. This is due to increase in demand for synthetic single crystal sapphire, which is used as a substrate in manufacture of LEDs. Various schemes by the government in emerging countries to promote LED industry development is expected to prove as a significant factor in fueling the growth of HCL leaching high purity alumina market. One such initiative started by the Indian government is UJALA, in which the government is keen on replacing all inefficient bulbs with high energy efficient bulbs. HCL leaching high purity alumina is also used in medical and aerospace industry for high-end applications such as coating of aircraft and its engine parts in which purity is of paramount priority.

HCL Leaching High Purity Alumina Market Outlook – Shift of Trend towards LED has Propelled Demand for HCL Leaching High Purity Alumina

Asia Pacific is the largest contributor in the HCL leaching high purity alumina market. This is mainly attributed to the swiftly growing urbanization and electronics industry in emerging economies in this region. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF)—a trust by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India—12% of the total LED lighting systems worldwide are sold in India. In addition to this, easy availability of raw materials and cheap labor has led to shift of manufacturing hubs to Asia Pacific region. This trend is expected to further gain traction over the forecast period. North America and Europe are amongst the emerging markets for the HCL leaching high purity alumina market.

Advancements in energy efficient lighting solution has propelled the HCL leaching high purity alumina market growth. High raw material cost is projected to prove to be one of the restraining factors for market growth. Major players are focusing on extensive research and development activities in order to differentiate their product offerings, entering into strategic acquisitions and joint ventures with local players, and expanding their productions facilities to enhance their market share. Some of the major companies operating in the global HCL leaching high purity alumina industry are Alcoa Inc., Bukowski, Orbite Technologies Inc., Altech Chemicals Limited, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Xuancheng Jingrui New Material Co., Ltd., Nippon Light Metal Company Ltd., Dalian Hiland Photoelectric Material Co., Ltd., Sasol, and Rusal.

Key Developments

• In July 2019, PARTER Capital Group AG, a private equity investment firm based in Schindellegi, Switzerland, acquired subsidiaries of Alcoa Corporation in Avilés, Spain and La Coruña, Spain. Alcoa Corporation is a leader in alumina, bauxite and aluminum products.