report
3.1 Executive Summary

The nanomaterials world market is composed of different materials including "traditional" materials like carbon black or dyes and pigments as well as materials like carbon nanotubes. This study concentrates on nanomaterials which are already commercially available or will appear on the market soon. To better support policy and decision makers, this economic analysis focuses on nanotechnology applications that are on or near market. There are numerous other applications for nanomaterials, though limited quantity is available in the market.  

This report concentrates as a first step on two different material classes: Nanomagnetic materials and nanofibres based on interviews^[1].

Nanofibres

Nanofibres are generating great interest in certain industry segments, where alternative materials are characterised by limited performance or much higher unit prices. A good example is the utilisation of carbon nanofibres as an alternative to carbon nanotubes for electron emitters in flat panel displays. Potential fields of application for nanofibres can be seen in the medical, energy and environmental sectors.

Filter media on the basis of nanofibres for new air and liquid applications seem to become very attractive because of their pressure efficiency in the case of the removal of organic substances and multivalent ions. Unique filtration effectiveness in combination with low pressure drop makes nanomaterials a superb filtration media. Membranes with UltraWeb® technology show surface loading abilities due to the inter-fibre spaces that promote self cleaning. Self cleaning is responsible for the low pressure drop.

Air filters are used in the cleaning of inlet and exhaust air in households, as well as industrial, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. It is also necessary to convey clean air to surgical rooms, to clean rooms, to laboratories and to many industrial processes such as combustion engines, turbo generators, and for the cleaning of waste air, for example from nuclear power stations.

The global market for nanofiltration membranes increased from $89.1 million in 2006 to an estimated $97.5 million by the end of 2007. BCC anticipates that revenues should reach $310.5 million by 2012, with a compound annual growth rate of 26.1%. The water treatment segment is worth an estimated $70.9 million in 2007 and is expected to reach $238.2 million by 2012 with a CAGR of 27.4%^[2]. The water treatment sector accounts for roughly three-quarter of total revenues. Increasing regulations related to the protection of the environment will positively affect the expansion of the nanofiltration market.

Nanomagnetic Materials

Essential advancement and new developments in the section of high-capacity magnet materials have led to numerous innovation processes in the most different application areas. Examples for that are related to engine development, sensor development and storage of information. 

According to a study from BCC the market, the global market for nanomagnetic materials and devices used for biotechnology, industrial products, and information storage accounted for $4.3 billion in 2004. It is estimated that the market will reach $12 billion in 2009. The AAGR was calculated to 22.6%. The core element of the market was the information storage application segment and it will also dominate in 2009. The market share of information storage applications accounts over 90% of today's market.

Although nanomagnetics have not received the attention as have e.g. the segments nanobiotechnology or nanoelectronics, the potential market impact is anticipated to be astonishingly high.