Engineering Polymers

Profit & Opportunity in the Marketplace for Advanced Thermoplastics & Thermosets

This 244-page Report is based on first-hand contact with researchers, engineers, corporate managers, and strategic planners within engineering polymer companies and organizations. It gives a comprehensive overview of the state of the technology-from the latest research on these versatile materials to their potential applications and markets. Full contact information for key researchers enables you to pursue licensing, partnering, and development opportunities. Due to their unique properties of strength, moldability, heat stability, and resistance to chemical attack, advanced engineering polymers continue to enjoy high demand and double-digit growth rates. Readers of this Report will learn about many potentially lucrative opportunities to tap into this growing market. Winter 2000.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Scope
Methodology
Market Growth
Reference

1. Introduction

History

John Wesley
Hyatt BASF

Markets

Global Plastics Growth
Production Statistics
Gross Domestic Product
Producer Price Index
Unemployment Statistics

Market Growth by Industrial Sector

Automotive
Aviation/Aerospace
Electrical/Electronic Composites
Medical
Industrial/Consumer

Snapshot: DuPont
Snapshot: GE Plastics
Developments To Watch

Composite Bonding
Fabric Prepreg
Injection Molding
Plastics Recycling
Photopolymerization
Probes for Detecting Motion
Selective Laser Sintering
Stereolithography
Two-Shot Molding
Compounding Plant
International Database Software
Patent Protection
Precision Molding Lab
Rotary Thermoformer
Scientific Cooperation

Contacts
References

SECTION I. ADVANCED THERMOPLASTICS

2. Introduction to Advanced Thermoplastics

3. Liquid Crystal Polymers

Properties
Competitors

BP Amoco Chemicals
DuPont
Ticona
Others

Markets

Automotive
Electronics and Electronic Connectors
Medical
Microwave Cookware
Plastic Film and Layers
Other Markets

Promising Developments

Biaxially Oriented LCP
Extruded LCP Tubes
Microcellular Foams
Push-Pull Injection Molding
Rapid Prototyping
Reinforced Thermoplastics

LCP Contacts

4. Nylon

Properties
Competitors

AlliedSignal
BASF
DuPont

Markets

Automotive

Promising Developments

Bonding Coatings
Carbon Fiber Reinforcement
Caprolactam Recovery
Caprolactam Synthesis
Cell Immobilization
Composite Fabrics
Composite Lead Substitute
Composite Membranes
Dissolved Nanotubes
Electrospun Nanofibers
Fire Retardants
Long Glass Fiber Reinforcement
Microsystem Technology (MST) Components
Precoating Technology
Thermoplastic Nanocomposites

Nylon Contacts
References

5. Polyketones

Properties
Competitors

BP Amoco
BASF
Shell Chemical Co.
Victrex Plc

Markets

Aerospace
Automotive
Electrical/Electronic
Industrial
Medical
Transportation
Appliances

Promising Developments

Adhesive Bonding and Debonding
Carbon-Carbon Composite
Catalyst Technology
Composite Munition
Graphite Reinforcements
Metals Infiltration
On-the-Fly Placement

Polyketone Contacts
Reference

6. Polyphenylene Sulfide

Properties
Competitors

Phillips Chemical Co.
Fortron
GE Plastics
Toray
Others

Markets

Automotive
Electrical/Electronic
Other Markets

Promising Developments

Anti-Lock Brake Components
Bakeware Coatings
Composite Bonding
Computer Board Connectors
Fuel-Leak Sensors
Thermostat Holder

PPS Contacts
References

7. Sulfone Polymers

Properties

Polyethersulfone (PES)
Polyphenylsulfone (PPSO)
Polysulfone (PSO)

Competitors

BP Amoco
BASF
Others

Markets

Automotive
Aviation
Consumer Goods/Industrial
Electrical/Electronic
Medical/Health
Other Markets

Promising Developments

Laboratory Animal Cages
Ultrasound Transducers

Sulfone Polymers Contacts
Reference

8. Other Advanced Thermoplastics

Advanced Thermoplastic Materials

Polyamide-imide (PAI)
Polybenzimidazole (PBI)
Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)
Polyetherimide (PEI)
Polyphthalamide (PPA)

Promising Developments

Electromechanical Relay Components
Fuse Body and Cover
Power Control Module Enclosure
Snowboard Binding
Throttle Bodies

Other Advanced Thermoplastics Contacts

SECTION II. FLUOROPOLYMERS

9. Introduction to Fluoropolymers

Properties
Competitors

Asahi Glass Co.
Ausimont Montedison Group
Daikin Industries Ltd.
DuPont
Dyneon

Markets

Aerospace
Automotive/Transportation
Chemical Processing
Clean-Room Processing
Electronics
Film
Medical
Nonplenum Wire and Cable
Plenum Wire

Promising Developments

Processing Aids in HDPE Pipe Formulations

Fluoropolymers Contacts

10. Polytetrafluoroethylene

Properties
Competitors

The Largest Producers
Other Important Fabricators and PTFE Product Producers

Chemfab Corp.
Coatings and Chemicals Corp.
Rogers Corp.
W. L. Gore & Associates Inc.

Markets
Promising Developments

Adhesive Bonding
Aircraft Wire Insulation
Barrier Coatings
Ceramic-Filled Laminates
Copper-Clad Laminates
Fluoroadditive Powder
Glass Slide Coatings
In-Line Valves
Ion Irradiation
Metal Oxide Film
Plasma Treatment
Precision Parts
Self-Lubricating Materials
Spray Coatings
Vascular Grafts
Woven Glass Laminates
Plasma Process
Closed-Vessel Microwave

PTFE Contacts

11. Polyvinylidene Fluoride

Properties
Competitors

Millipore Corp.
Solvay Advanced Polymers Inc. (SAPI)

Markets
Promising Developments

Actuator Materials
Aluminum Nanoparticles
Piezoelectric Ceramics
Piezoelectric Composites
Piezomagnetostrictive Wire
Piezomicrosensors

PVDF Contacts

12. Other Fluoropolymers

Fluoropolymers

Chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE)
Ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene Copolymer (ECTFE)
Ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene Copolymer (ETFC)
Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP)
Perfluoroalkoxy Resin (PFA)

Other Fluoropolymers Contacts

SECTION III. THERMOSETS

13. Epoxy Resins

Properties

Glycidyls
Cycloaliphatics

Competitors

Axson Group
Ciba Specialty Chemicals
Dow Chemical
Shell
Pear Technologies
Royal Ten Cate USA Inc.

Markets

Adhesives
Aerospace Composites
Other Composites Components
Coatings
Electrical/Electronic
Infrastructure

Promising Developments

Coil Coating
Composite Board
Deep-Sea Exploration
Dual-Cure Adhesives
Fast-Cure Adhesives
Filled Putties
Inorganic Polymers
Intelimer Initiators
JSF Wings
Liquid Crystal Epoxies
Semiconductor Wave Guides
Thermister/Thyristor Pads
Vapor-Grown Fibers

14. Bismaleimide (BMI)

Competitors

Ciba Specialty Chemicals
Mitsui
Laporte Performance Chemicals
Others

Markets

Aerospace and Military
Electronics

Promising Developments

Aircraft Composites
Degradation Reduction
Enhanced Tack and Drape
Fiber Reinforcement
High-Density Substrates
Rapid Prototyping
Thermoplastic Toughening

Thermosets Contacts
Reference

15. Patents

Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP)
Nylon
Polyketones
Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)
Sulfone Polymers Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)
Epoxy Bismaleimide (BMI)

Figures

1. Stress vs. Time for Dyneon's Dynamar FX-5920-B Polymer Processing Aid in Hostalen GM 5010 T2 HDPE Pipe Resin
2. W. L. Gore's Gore-Tex Soft Tissue Patch

Tables

1. SPI Year-End Statistics for 1998: Production, Sales, and Captive Use, 1998 vs. 1997
2. Gross Domestic Product by Industry in Current Dollars, 1992-1997
3. Annual Percent Changes in PPI for Net Output of Major Industry Groups, 1994-1998
4. Thermoplastics: Production, Sales, and Captive Use
5. US Demand for High-Temperature Plastics
6. Typical Applications for High-Temperature Thermoplastics
7. Typical LCP Properties
8. SPI Year-End Statistics for 1998: Production, Sales, and Captive Use, 1998 vs. 1997
9. PPS Properties
10. Sulfone Polymer Properties
11. Comparison of Fluoropolymer Properties
12. World Fluoropolymer Markets: 1998-2008
13. Processing Aids, Shear Rate vs. Viscosity (Poise) at 190 °C and 230 °C
14. Epoxy: SPI Year-End Statistics for 1998: Production, Sales, and Captive Use, 1998 vs. 1997