MICROSPHERES MATERIALS MARKET ANALYSIS

Microspheres, also referred to as microparticles are small spherical particles, which have diameters ranging from one to thousand micrometers. Microspheres are powders that are biodegradable in nature and are manufactured from various synthetic and natural materials such as polymer microspheres, glass microspheres, and ceramic microspheres. The method involved in the preparation of microparticles includes spray drying and cooling, solvent extraction, and quasi emulsion solvent diffusion. Floating and hollow microspheres differ extensively in density and therefore, used for various applications. Hollow microspheres are usually used as additives to lower density of a material. Floating microspheres have numerous applications depending on its material and size.

Microspheres Materials Market Taxonomy

On the basis of product type, the global market is segmented into:

• Floating Microsphere
• Effervescent Type
• Non-Effervescent Type
• Radioactive Microsphere
• Hollow Microsphere
• Magnetic Microsphere
• Muchoadhesive Microsphere

On the basis of technique, the global market is segmented into:

• Single Emulsion Technique
• Heat stabilization method
• Chemical stabilization method
• Ionic chelation method
• Double Emulsion Technique
• Polymerization Technique
• Normal phase
• Bulk
• Suspension
• Emulsion
• Interfacial
• Spray Drying Technique
• Spray Congealing Technique
• Solvent Extraction Technique
• Phase Separation Co-acervation Technique
• Solvent Evaporation Technique

On the basis of raw material, the global market is segmented into:

• Glass Microspheres
• Polymer Microspheres
• Synthetic Polymers
• Non-Biodegradable Polymers
• Poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA)
• Glycidyl methacrylate
• Epoxy polymers
• Biodegradable polymers
• Lactides and Glycolides and their copolymers
• Poly alkyl cyano acrylates
• Polyanhydrides
• Poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL)
• Natural Polymers
• Carbohydrates
• Agarose
• Carrageenan
• Chitosan
• Starch
• Proteins
• Albumin
• Gelatin
• Collagen
• Chemically modified carbohydrates
• Poly dextran
• Poly starch
• Ceramic Microspheres
• Fly AHS (Cenospheres) Microspheres
• Metallic Microspheres

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

• Medical Technology
• Life Science & Biotechnology
• Paints & Coatings
• Cosmetics & Personal Care
• Oil & Gas
• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Construction
• Others (marine, etc)

The medical and biotechnology applications of microsphere materials include drug delivery systems, embolization, skin treatments, and bulking agent. Lightweight materials and syntactic foams are extensively used in the aerospace sector, making aerospace the largest application segment in the market. Also, growth of the drilling activities, has resulted in an increased demand for microspheres, as it helps improve mud lubricity and control the essential torque of the drill machine. This makes microspheres essential to the oil & gas industry. The demand for the retro-reflective feature and lower specific gravity of microspheres, has resulted in its use of manufacturing paints that are used in the road signs. Microspheres are majorly used in the milling and grinding of various minerals and pigments in the cosmetics and personal care products industries. Growth of the cosmetics & personal care end-use industries, especially in the emerging economies of India and China, creates a highly lucrative environment for growth of the global microspheres market.

North America is the largest and fastest-growing market for microspheres in the world, owing to rampant growth of its end-use industries such as medical technology, automotive, oil & gas, and aerospace. Asia-Pacific is the second fastest-growing region due to burgeoning growth of life sciences & biotechnology, and paints & coatings end-use industries in the region.

Product innovation is one of the key strategies adopted by the leading players in the microspheres material market, with BASF and Trelleborg at the forefront of innovation. BASF has developed innovative microsphere-based admixture technology for freeze-thaw durability eliminating the need for air-entrained concrete. Trelleborg has also developed Eccofloat—hollow glass microspheres to meet deep-sea buoyancy requirements for subsea applications. Some of the major companies operating in the global microspheres materials market are Trelleborg, BASF, Phosphorex, Pylote, Potters Industries LLC, 3M Company, AkzoNobel, Dennert Poraver GmbH Luminex Corporation, Chase Corporation, Expancel, Sigmund Lindner GmbH, and Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

Key Developments

1. Key players in the market are involved in various business strategies such as capacity expansion, in order to expand their product portfolio. For instance, in July 2017, AkzoNobel, a specialty chemicals provider, expanded its production capacity of Expancel expendable micropsheres at Sundsvall, Sweden. These products are used in food packaging, shoe soles, etc.
2. Key companies in the market are focused on various growth strategies such as merger and acquisition, in order to gain competitive edge in the market. For instance, in October 2018, Carlyle Group, a U.S.-based private equity company and GIC acquired AkzoNobel, the sociality chemicals provider. Thereafter, it was launched as Nouryon, making it global specialty chemicals provider.
3. Key players in the market are involved various business strategies such as partnership and agreement, in order to strengthen their market position. For instance, in June 2019, BASF SE, a German-based chemicals provider, collaborated with Sibur, a petrochemical company, develop innovative polymer solutions.