WELLESLEY, Mass., April 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scientists are unravelling and replicating many of the mysteries of the planet and are using their discoveries to fuel technological advancements across a number of fields, according to a report by BCC Research. These breakthroughs use bioinspired architectures from animals like geckos and butterflies to create devices which guard against icing, prohibit fogging and transfer heat–collectively. These achievements make up the market for nanoengineered surfaces.
The global market for nanoengineered surfaces was valued at $403 million in 2017, and is forecasted to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.7% through 2022, when it will be worth an estimated $1.75 billion, according to the report Bioinspired and Nanoengineered Surfaces: Technologies, Applications and Global Markets.
Major players in the North American market include Aculon, Big Sky Technologies Inc., Clear-Tone Hearing Aid Laboratories Inc., DryWired, Entegris Inc., GE Global Research, LiquiGlide, Magnolia Solar Inc., Nanofilm, PPG Industries, Adaptive Service Technologies Inc., and UltraTech International Inc. Major players within foreign markets include Arteyka Co., BioTomo, DELMIC, Fabricor, Lightmotif, Nanex, Pilkington Glass Ltd. and Schoeller Textil. In 2017, there were a total of 61 companies with active nanoengineered commercial interests.
Research Highlights
- Eight application categories make up the nanoengineered surfaces market, not including a number of miscellaneous sectors which are fit into an “other” category. The aviation/marine/military application is projected to see the quickest growth through 2022, with a CAGR of 81.3%. By 2022, the largest application will be building materials, with an estimated value of $540.9 million.
- A number of techniques are employed to fabricate nanoengineered surfaces, including ionized gas plasma, chemical vapor deposition, laser ablation, etching, multilayer-film co-extrusion and nanoimprinting.
- Properties supported by nanoengineering include anti-corrosion, liquid wetting, anti-icing, dry adhesion, biofilm resistance, antireflection, hard coatings, super hydrophobic surfaces, soil release and self-cleaning.
“The major emphasis on nanoscience and nanotechnology over the past 20 years has provided a significant impetus in mimicking nature using various nanofabrication techniques for commercial applications,” said BCC Research analyst and report author John Oliver. “Examples of biologically inspired artificial materials can be simpler in design yet are claimed to be more powerful in function than their natural analogs.”
Nanoengineering in the Automotive Industry: An End to Windshield Bug Smears?
Nanoengineering has a promising future in the automotive industry, the report notes, with applications focusing on glass, paint and exterior plastic product treatments. Those treatments could do everything from repel dirt, water and insects to coat surfaces with antifog, antifrost and antireflective layers. Overall, the automotive segment is anticipated to grow from 2017’s market value of $175 million to almost $1 billion by 2027, for a CAGR of 41.5%. A number of companies are working specifically on glass and paint coatings which would provide a high-release surface to discourage material–bugs or dirt–from adhering to treated exteriors.
About BCC Research
BCC Research is a publisher of market research reports that provide organizations with intelligence to drive smart business decisions. By partnering with industry experts worldwide, BCC Research provides unbiased measurements and assessments of global markets covering major industrial and technology sectors, including emerging markets. For more information about BCC Research, please visit bccresearch.com. Follow BCC Research on Twitter at @BCCResearch.