report
3.4.1 Market description

According to a BCC report of 2007 during the last 6 years, the number of research activities resulting in patent applications and issued patents has increased rapidly, by almost a factor of 15, leading to the development of mass-production fabrication methods, innovative compositions, and a large variety of applications spanning many industrial sectors^[18].

The growing interest in the utilisation of these nanostructures primarily stems from their unique physical, mechanical, and electrical properties associated with their very high surface area. These properties make nanofibres suitable for the creation of numerous technologically advanced products within many fields of application. With development activities related to nanofibre technology intensifying rapidly, one can reasonably project that these nanostructures will achieve widespread commercialisation within the next 5 to 10 years.

The global market for nanofibres increased from $43.2 million in 2006 to an estimated $48.0 million by the end of 2007. It should reach $176 million in 2012 and grow to $825 million by 2017, compound annual growth rates of 30% and 36%, respectively.

Growth is being driven primarily by the use of these materials in the mechanical/chemical sector, in particular for making filtration media. This area is expected to grow from $35.3 million in 2007 to $127.6 million in 2012 and $521.7 million in 2017 with CAGRs of 29.3% and 32.5%, respectively.

The fastest growing sector will be electronics, increasing from $2.2 million in 2007 to $7.2 million in 2012 and $137.9 million in 2017 - 42.7% and 60.4% CAGRs, respectively. Another important sector is energy, growing from $7.9 million in 2007 to $29 million in 2012 and $116.3 million in 2017 - CAGRs of 29.7% and 32.0%, respectively.

In addition they include sensors and instrumentation, medical, bioengineering, automotive, aerospace, thermal and acoustic insulation, consumer, and defence and security.

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 nano fibres as an alternative to carbon nanotubes for electron emitters in flat panel displays.

Fig. 4 highlights the results for nanofibres of the BCC report and Fig. 5 represents corresponding data for the electronic and the energy sector.

Fig. 4: Global market for nano fibres

Fig. 5: Global fibre market for the electronic and energy sector

Nanofibres have a broad variety of possible applications in several fields including electronics, medicine, mechanics, automotive, aerospace and acoustics. The fastest market growth is expected in electronics within the next few years^[19]. As already mentioned growth of the nanofibre market is currently being driven by filtration applications. There is clearly a high interest in processing fluids - especially water - with higher purity levels. This market is most likely driven by water and wastewater treatment. One of the main drivers is quality regulation. Future regulations are expected to become even more restrictive^[20] which will most likely lead to a rising market penetration of membranes. At the end of the day the required filtration quality and price will decide over the market growth rate.

The US demand for membrane materials is expected to increase 8.2 % per year to $4.3 billion in 2012^[21].

Additionally, a growing number of industries are using membranes to reduce water use and waste disposal expenditures, and to improve water re-use and material recovery.

Value growth will be aided by the increasing use of value-added, high performance membranes, and a gradual shift toward higher value materials.

Micro filtration membranes will continue to account for the largest share of total demand, but represent a better established and more mature segment of the market. As a result, advances are projected to be stronger for ultra filtration and reverse osmosis membranes, both of which function in a variety of markets at a higher purity level. However, among major applications, gains are expected to be strongest for pervaporation membranes, albeit from a small base, because of their use in high-growth specialty markets such as chemical and industrial gas processing, as well as fluid treatment in wastewater, and medical and pharmaceutical markets. Other membrane separation technologies include gas separation, nanofiltration, dialysis and electro dialysis.

Additionally, Frost and Sullivan recognise for the US market the following industry trends:

• Continuing industry consolidation through mergers and acquisitions
• Rising potential in the potable water treatment, wastewater reuse and desalination market
• Continuing decrease in membrane prices opens up new markets
• Conventional treatment remains a key competition
• Improvement in membrane elements design and configuration to enhance treatment efficiency
• Integrated membrane systems produce high quality reclaimed water.