US demand to rise nearly 6% per year through 2008

US demand for conductive polymers will grow 5.9 percent annually to 560 million pounds (including both resins and additives) in 2008, valued at $1.5 billion. Conductive polymers will provide a 440 million pound market for base resins, driven by the development of improved resin grades with cost, processing and performance advantages. Advances will result from the proliferation of sensitive electronic devices and needs to protect them from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and electromagnetic and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI), as well as new technologies such as carbon nanotubes (fibrils) and inherently conductive polymers (ICPs).

PVC fastest growing resin used in conductive polymers

The six leading resins -- acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, polyphenylenebased resins, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene -- together accounted for over threefourths of all conductive polymers used in 2003. ABS will remain dominant based on the material's high impact strength. PVC will expand at a more rapid pace, however, based on its lower cost, performance enhancements, and design and processing ease. Polyphenylene-based resins will experience greater use in high temperature and chemical resistance applications, such as under-the-hood motor vehicle components. Conductive polycarbonate demand will be fueled by the resin's high impact strength, toughness, dimensional stability, and good mechanical and electrical properties.

Antistatic packaging market best growing

The largest conductive polymer market, product components, will exhibit good growth due to opportunities in products such as housings, rollers, trays, connectors and other parts. Gains will be fueled by the need to control high levels of static electricity developed by moving parts, as well as EMI/RFI emissions. Of the major markets, best growth is anticipated for antistatic packaging in light of the cost effectiveness of conductive polymers in pro tecting sensitive electronic devices from static discharges. Lower volume conductive polymer uses include materials handling systems, and worksurface and flooring products. Among conductive technologies, carbon black will remain dominant and be mainly used in electrostatic discharge protection. Other leading conductive technologies include metallization and paint-coated. However, best prospects are expected in conductive fibers due to better EMI/ RFI shielding properties and surface appearance. Emerging technologies include ICPs and carbon nanotubes. Potentially sizable applications for ICPs include organic light emitting diodes for use in flat screens and other flexible displays, and bipolar plates and end plates for use in fuel cells. Carbon nanotubes can be used at lower loadings than other additives, maintain a resin's key properties, and are not subject to static build-up.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MARKET ENVIRONMENT General Macroeconomic Outlook Consumer Income & Spending Demographic Trends Manufacturing Outlook Durable Goods Nondurable Goods Electrical & Electronic Equipment Outlook Electronic Products Computers & Office Equipment Other > Other Electronic Products Electronic Components > Semiconductors Passive Components >Printed Circuit Boards & Other Electrical Equipment Transportation Equipment Outlook Plastic Industry Trends Competitive Materials Market Cyclicality Pricing Trends International Activity TECHNOLOGIES General Carbon Black Powder-Filled Conductive Polymers Metallized Conductive Polymers Paint-Coated Conductive Polymers Fiber-Filled Conductive Polymers >Types Uses Other Technologies Chemical Antistatic Agents Inherently Conductive Polymers RESINS General Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Polyvinyl Chloride Polycarbonate Polyphenylene-Based Resins Polyethylene Polypropylene Nylon Thermoplastic Polyesters Polystyrene Inherently Conductive Polymers Other Conductive Polymers FUNCTIONS/APPLICATIONS/MARKETS General Functions EMI/RFI Shielding >ESD Protection & Other Functions Applications >Product Components > Types > Housings > Other Components > Producers Resins Antistatic Packaging Resins Producers Materials Handling > Resins Producers Worksurface & Flooring > Resins Producers Other Applications Markets Electrical & Electronic Equipment Industrial Packaging Other Markets INDUSTRY STRUCTURE General Conductive Polymer Industry Segments Market Share Merger & Acquisition Activity Manufacturing Requirements Marketing & Distribution Research & Development Competitive Strategies Cooperative Agreements Company Profiles BASF AG Bayer AG Bekaert (NV) SA Cabot Corporation Celanese AG Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc. Clariant International Limited Conductive Compounds Incorporated Conductive Containers Incorporated Cool Options Incorporated Crompton Corporation Cybershield Incorporated Cytec Industries Incorporated Degussa AG Dow Chemical Company DSM NV DuPont (EI) de Nemours Eastman Chemical Company Ferro Corporation Foster Corporation General Electric Company Henkel KG aA HiTech Polymer Incorporated Hyperion Catalysis International Inc. Illinois Tool Works Incorporated Imperial Chemical Industries plc Inco Limited IntraMicron Incorporated Kloeckner Pentaplast GmbH & Co. KG Littelfuse Incorporated Noveon Incorporated Ormecon GmbH PolyOne Corporation RTP Company Screenprint/Dow Solutia Incorporated Spartech Corporation Synthetic Rubber Technologies Inc. Teknor Apex Company 3M Company Total SA Tyco International Limited VPI LLC