Page 31 - Plastics News October 2016
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rigid transparent plastics manufacturers to reduce of rigid transparent plastics dropped greatly due to low
emissions of greenhouse gases and other wastes. This oil prices. However, the market in volume terms still
trend will increase manufacturing costs while providing grew steadily in most parts of the world, except for some
an incentive for technological innovation. High oil prices regions where economies fell into recessions.
force resin producers to source other raw materials besides
oil. For example, as high oil prices boosted the cost of "Manufacturers are developing new grades of rigid
polyethylene, Chinese manufacturers were using calcium transparent plastics with better performance, such as
carbide instead of polyethylene to make PVC resins. As a better light transmittance, strength, stiffness, durability,
result, most of the newly added PVC capacities in China yellowness resistance and thermal properties," says BCC
before 2013 were calcium carbide-based. Now, as oil Research analyst Jason Chen. "These developments will
prices drop to a low level, manufacturers are reconsidering help rigid transparent plastics grab more market shares
the polyethylene production option. In value terms, the and extend their applications in various industries,
market has declined significantly since because the prices including medical devices, automobiles, electronics,
architecture, housewares and appliances."
Global Thermoplastic Polyurethane films demand to increase
Global Thermoplastic Polyurethane films demand estimated at US$516.9 mln by 2024 according
to a research
Increase in investment in building & construction and polycaprolactone TPU. Polyester TPU films are
industry and rise in demand for automotive have been manufactured by using methylene diphenyl isocyanate
driving the demand for thermoplastic polyurethane and polyol esters as key raw materials. Polycaprolactone
TPU films are manufactured by using caprolactone
derivatives and aliphatic polyols. Polyether TPU films
possess low specific gravity vis-à-vis polyester and
polycaprolactone TPU films. TPU films are primarily used
in automotive, building & construction, energy, and
aerospace industries. In terms of volume, automotive
dominated the thermoplastic polyurethane films
market, followed by building & construction, in 2015.
Thermoplastic polyurethane films are employed to lower
the overall weight of automotive body parts.
films since the last few years. This trend is projected to Furthermore, these films are used in engineering and
continue during the forecast period. designing of noise and vibration absorbing automotive
parts. Thermoplastic polyurethane films are employed
The global thermoplastic polyurethane films market was in the building & construction industry owing to their
valued at US$286.8 mln in 2015 and is projected to reach excellent tear resistance property. Thermoplastic
US$516.9 mln by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 6.8% polyurethane films are also used in processing and
between 2016 and 2024, as per Transparency Market designing of shoe sole inserts and upper parts of athletic
Research. sportswear.
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films market has Increase in investment in building & construction industry
been segmented into polyester TPU, polyether TPU, and rise in demand for automotive have been driving the
demand for thermoplastic polyurethane films since the
last few years. This trend is projected to continue during
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