Nanomagnetics: Materials, Devices and Markets

Report Highlights

• The global market for nanomagnetic materials and devices will rise at an AAGR (average annual growth rate) of 22.6% from $4.3 billion in 2004 to reach nearly $12.0 billion in 2009.
• Information storage applications account for the vast majority – over 90% – of today’s market and will continue to dominate in 2009.
• Spurred by growth in bioseparations and magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, and the emergence of nanomagnetic biosensors and nanoparticles for disease treatment, the 2009 market for biotechnology applications is forecast to reach $310 million.
• With soft magnetic nanocrystalline transformer cores as its backbone, the industrial products sector is projected to reach $167 million in 2009.

INTRODUCTION

The properties of nanostructured magnetic materials and devices are extraordinarily different from those of conventional magnetic systems. Esoteric technical terms such as exchange coupling, giant magnetoresistance, single-domain behavior, superparamag-netism, and tunneling magnetoresistance all describe some of the unique characteristics and behavior obtainable from nanomagnetic particles, films and bulk materials.

Interesting science is nice, certainly, but practical, revenue-generating applications are even better. It turns out that the properties of nanomagnetic systems are enabling for a variety of actual and potential commercial uses, from data storage technology and nonvolatile memory to industrial sensors and cancer treatment.

This BCC report identifies current, emerging, and futuristic applications for nanomagnetic materials and devices, and evaluates actual and potential markets by application and type. Some nanomagnetic products have been on the market for years, or even decades, whereas others have yet to reach commercialization. The gamut of these nanomagnetic materials and devices is covered in this study, including products based on particles or dispersions, nanoscale thin films, and bulk nanostructured materials.

This is the first and only study to comprehensively cover nanomagnetics technology and . It is a valuable resource for those who must understand the technological and market impact of magnetic materials and devices based on nanotechnology, and for decision-makers at material and device companies.

SCOPE OF STUDY

The report contains:

• Detailed coverage of current and future applications of nanomagnetic materials and devices in three major market segments – biotechnology, industrial products, and information storage
• Detailed coverage of a myriad of applications in these fields with forecasts through 2009
• Discussion of who’s who, materials and technology, competition, commercial status, and market trends
• Industry data, company profiles, technical background information and a patent analysis.

METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES

The information and analyses contained in this document are based on both primary and secondary sources of information. Dozens of industry participants-executives, salespeople, managers, engineers, and others -were interviewed by telephone and email to obtain information for this study, including company statistics, technical details, viewpoints about industry issues, and input about market data and trends. Other information was gleaned from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office online database, annual reports and other SEC filings, company press releases and Web sites, scientific and trade publications, and BCC reports and newsletters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mindy N. Rittner, Ph.D., the author of this report, has been active in the nanomaterials field for over ten years, initially as a scientific researcher and currently as director of nanotechnology research at BCC. The author of numerous seminal BCC industry research reports and supervisor for BCC's nanotechnology publications, Dr. Rittner is also the founder and editor of BCC's monthly newsletter, Nanoparticle News, and co-chair of BCC's annual Nanomaterials conference. She has a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Northwestern University, and a B.S.E degree from Princeton University.