POLYMER CONCRETE MARKET ANALYSIS

One of the major factors hindering the growth of the global polymer concrete market is the high initial capital cost associated with it. Polymer concrete requires specialized equipment and materials for production which makes the initial investment quite high. The raw materials used such as resins, hardeners, and aggregates are quite expensive compared to conventional concrete. Moreover, the machinery used for mixing, casting and curing of polymer concrete slab also has a significant price tag which includes mixers, moulds, compressors, ovens etc. This high upfront expenditure prohibits many small and mid-sized construction projects from adopting polymer concrete.

Opportunities: Research & development of new polymer materials

Research and development of advanced polymer materials holds tremendous potential to drive innovation and growth in the global polymer concrete market. Polymers offer properties like flexibility, strength and durability that can help address many of the shortcomings of traditional concrete. Ongoing material science breakthroughs are leading to the discovery and commercialization of novel polymers with unique performance characteristics. For example, polyurethane and epoxy based formulations are being developed that provide greatly enhanced chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and impermeability compared to traditional materials. These new polymers could enable polymer concrete to competitively penetrate demanding application areas like wastewater infrastructure that currently rely on more expensive alternatives.