Asia Pacific and North America are “key contributors” to the growth of the micronised polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) market, with China and the US dominating the respective markets.
A strong production base in the ink, coating, thermoplastic and elastomer industries in the two countries is driving the growth, according to Persistence Market Research, Plastemart reported.
Consumption of printing ink, the main consumer of micronized PTFE, stood in China at 1,046.9 thousand metric tonnes at the end of 2014, rising from 592.6 thousand metric tonnes in 2010 and 305.7 thousand in 2005. The US dominates the printing ink market for both value and volume, while strong growth in packaging, e-commerce and books drives demand for printing inks.
The main markets for micronised PTFE after China are Japan, South Korea and India, in that order.
Micronised PTFE, also known as polytetrafluoroethylene micro powder, is used to add surface lubricity and anti-blocking properties, and is created using virgin PTFE resin or recycled PTFE scrap, which have to be irradiated via technologies such as thermal degradation and electron beam irradiation. Following the irradiation, the PTFE resin is ground into micro powders.