INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
This report will focus on the application of nanotechnologies in the coating and adhesive industries and will quantify their current and projected global markets to 2015. These nanomaterials-based products are enabled by unique constituent nanoparticulate, nanocrystalline, or colloidal compositions, dimensions, geometries, molecular-scale electronic properties, as well as other inbuilt nanometric processes and kinetics. Combinations of these elements have strong potential for enabling significantly improved, or entirely new and novel capabilities. These competencies would have likely been deemed as unattainable in the recent past. The report will also touch on the roles that nanostructured surface features and their resulting properties may play when they work in conjunction with these coatings and adhesives.
A myriad of important capabilities can be enabled by nanotechnology-based coatings and adhesives (for simplicity’s sake, henceforth, these will be referred to as nanocoatings and nanoadhesives). There will undoubtedly be a number of “cross-application” nanocoating and nanoadhesive formulations, which when reconfigured, will have the potential for diverse applications across several market sectors. For example, self-cleaning nanocoating products for the automotive industry are likely to be specifically formulated for this sector, and will exhibit properties that are different from the self-cleaning nanocoating products that are designed for construction/architectural applications. Antimicrobial nanocoating formulations, utilized to keep hospital surfaces free from bacteria, will likely be much different that the antimicrobial nanocoating formulations used for in vivo catheters or stents.
In addition, there are likely to be a number of nuances where nanocoatings or nanoadhesives may be valid in both categories. For example, certain nanocoatings that serve to functionalize the bare surfaces of given material; making it more receptive to further modification, may also function as an adhesive undercoat.
A full range of distinctive nanocoatings and nanoadhesives that are currently on the market, as well as various “products in progress,” which show promise for beneficial future applications will be explored. A survey of relevant patents, companies that manufacture and market these products, and research groups that are engaged in the development of next generation nanocoatings and nanoadhesives will be conducted.
REASONS FOR DOING THIS STUDY
Robust potential markets for nanocoatings and nanoadhesive products exist worldwide for a myriad of applications spanning medical and health care, electronics, energy, transportation, construction, packaging, forestry, textile, and homeland security sectors to name a few. These innovative nanotechnologies have the capacity for enabling a wide range of “smart” functional surfaces and interfaces as well as the development of advanced, highly effective, yet economical bonding, and connection capabilities. This report will serve to elucidate the latest developments in these fascinating areas, survey a range of products that are already impacting specific market sectors, and explore how these particular innovative nanotechnologies will contribute to the reshaping of our world.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This BCC research report will serve to impart unique information concerning the rapidly expanding progress that is taking place in the research, development and commercialization of novel and advanced nanocoatings and nanoadhesives. Descriptions of the latest developments in these areas convey timely insights that will be of potential interest to those involved in the coating and adhesive sectors, as well as those engaged in a myriad of surface modification industries.
Nanocoating and nanoadhesive related topics touched upon in this study may have significance for business leaders, thought leaders, other business decision makers, and marketing/sales specialists within the coating and adhesive sectors. This report may also hold interest for nanotechnology and nanomedicine investigators, medical device researchers and engineers, military research personnel, aerospace and other transportation researchers and engineers, as well as a wide range of individuals involved in any scientific discipline within academia.
SCOPE OF REPORT
This report will be divided into two primary sections—nanocoatings and nanoadhesives—to survey existing and emerging technologies in these markets worldwide; survey and provide an analysis on relevant patents, as well as to profile the key companies involved with the development of products in these areas. Current and projected global markets for these particular nanotechnologies will be elucidated and segmented into geographical regions and countries. All revenue figures are in current (2009) U.S. dollars.
Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in this study. The methodology included extensive literature searches, and the assimilation and distillation of global scale nanocoatings and nanoadhesives related research. Where clarification or additional information was required to further elucidate specific technologies, individual researchers were contacted. Companies were consulted when a more in-depth description of their processes, products, and perceived markets was warranted.
The market values expressed within this report include those attributed to the dedicated research involved for specific items, as well as the valuation of finished products. Nanotechnology may be perceived as a fundamentally enabling and value-adding platform with the potential capacity for encompassing virtually every business/market sector. Therefore, when describing various facets of the nanocoatings and nanoadhesives applications market, the author feels that a distinction should not be made between the worth of particular products and/or processes, and those of the integrated nanomaterials explicitly, which serve to improve their quality and performance.
The rationale here is that many products and processes that have been, or will be, enhanced and further functionalized via nanotechnology might be less, or not at all, likely to be considered for purchase were it not for their value-added “nanoness” factor. The markets for these goods themselves may be generated, to a significant degree, by virtue of the nanomaterials, nanoscale engineering, and/or nanodevices that they contain, and the added benefits that they convey. Hence, a blended value for these markets seems appropriate.
INFORMATION SOURCES
The majority of information sources used in this report were derived from online literature searches, journal-published scientific papers, editorials, news articles, and government as well as global databases, reports and briefings. Numerous books and magazines were consulted for relevant technological information, or for background sections. Researchers who are considered experts in their respective fields, and nanocoating and nanoadhesive-producing companies were also consulted.
ANALYST’S CREDENTIALS
The author has been involved with intensive research related to nanotechnology and nanomedicine since 1996. He has conceptualized and designed many nanomedical components, devices, and systems, and generated potential nanodevice deployment and retrieval strategies. Over the years he has managed to engage a number of international nanotechnology and nanomedicine researchers in collaborating on these projects. In 2008 he incorporated a startup company called NanoApps Medical, Inc., along with these researchers, with the aim of developing innovative and advanced nanomedical diagnostic and therapeutic components, devices, and systems.
The author has been involved with journal article and book chapter contributions as relates to various aspects of nanomedicine in regard to device concepts, designs, and envisaged nanodevice functionality. He has written a research report for the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology on the topic of DNA-based manufacturing, and is in the process of preparing a manuscript for a book on the topic of nanomedical component, device and systems design for CRC Press.
Cumulative work to date has provided the author with a unique perspective and focused background with which to approach many aspects of nanotechnology. There are myriad, frequently overlapping, and complex pathways that nanotechnologies are most likely to follow toward their anticipated beneficial applications in many diverse areas. It is hoped that this report will assist in elucidating how nanotechnology applications in the coating and adhesive sectors may be of benefit to us all.
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DISCLAIMER
The information developed in this report is intended to be as reliable as possible at the time of publication and of a professional nature. This information does not constitute managerial, legal, or accounting advice; nor should it serve as a corporate policy guide, laboratory manual, or an endorsement of any product, as much of the information is speculative in nature. The author assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage that might result from reliance on the reported information or its use.
NOTE
As with any new technology, especially for nanotechnology, which is widely anticipated to be fundamentally disruptive and enabling, it can be challenging to estimate quantitatively how new nano-enhanced products and processes will fare in the marketplace.
Although a number of nanocoating and nanoadhesive technologies have been introduced to market, the commercialization timeline of others is less clear, as they are either still at the laboratory research or testing/trial stages. Others will remain queued for release pending further development to address issues such as cost effectiveness and high volume manufacturing, functional verification, appropriate packaging, and the mounting of a reasonable assurance of safety as relates to human health and the environment at large.
Market estimates presented via the tables within this research report are derived from current and projected nanocoating and nanoadhesive markets and facets thereof. Perceived demand for these enhanced products is based on certain criteria such as their current levels of development and maturity, specific functionality, available quantity, and potential for overlap, (e.g., self-assembling monolayers might be used as both nanocoatings and nanoadhesives).
Nanocoating and nanoadhesive technologies included in the tables below are shown to be either under development (UD) or in production (IP) for the particular application. All figures shown (especially for 2010 to 2015) include estimated research funding aimed at their development. All estimates will undoubtedly be subject to vagaries in demand and to the uncertainties inherent to the markets themselves, and therefore should be construed as relatively fluid.
Report Code: NAN048A, Published: January 2010, Analyst: Frank Boehm
