Page 44 - Plastics News September 2016
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FEATURES
fastest growth at a CAGR of 10.6% over the next eight key ?ndings from the report suggest:
years. Other construction applications include bridge
bearings, FRP bridge section, glazing sealant, concrete • The global bio based construction polymers market
molds, concrete jointing, cladding panel, and ?oorings demand was 4.88 million tons in 2015 and is expected
anchor ?xings. to reach 11.64 million tons by 2024, growing at a CAGR
of 10.2% from 2016 to 2024
The major demand is expected from emerging markets of
Asia Paci?c and South America. Countries such as China, • Epoxies accounted for over 24% of overall market
India and Brazil are anticipated to witness high growth volume in 2015 owing to high demand from coatings
owing to increasing infrastructure activities and favorable and adhesive application. Polymer modi?ed bitumen
bio based product political framework. emulsions are used to build roads and facilitate to
maintain asphalt quality.
Moderate growth is expected from matured markets such
as North America and Europe. Countries such as U.S. and • Pipe application segment dominated the global
U.K. are expected to lose their market share to Asia Paci?c demand and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.6%
countries owing to less infrastructural activities taking from 2016 to 2024. The rising construction activities,
place in these regions. particularly in India and China, may be attributed to
the high growth in this particular segment.
The global bio based construction polymers market is
highly competitive, and it is expected to move towards • Asia Paci?c accounted for 31.5% of the global demand
consolidation and may witness an increase in mergers, in 2015 and is anticipated to witness the fastest
acquisitions and strategic alliances over the forecast growth over the next eight years. The high growth may
period. be attributed to growing infrastructure, particularly
in India and China.
Major companies include SK Chemicals, BASF SE, Evonik
Industries, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Nature Works LLC, • Bio based construction polymer market is highly
Bio-On, Toyobo, DuPont de Nemours, Teijin Plastics fragmented among small domestic companies and
and PolyOne. Other players include Tate & Lyle, Hiusan multinational players. Key players in the market
Biosciences, Kaneka TEPHA,. include Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Tate & Lyle, DuPont
de Nemours, BASF, Toyobo, SK Chemicals, Bio-On,
Nature Works, Synbra, Kaneka TEPHA and Ube.
Using technology added to asphalt, the substance activates when air
and water enters through cracks in the road surface.
Using technology to avoid potholes is clever, but it doesn’t
obviate the need to ?x or prevent them. Here are a few • At England’s University of Bath, scientists are
notable efforts to achieve that: employing a similar idea, but instead using bacteria
and nutrients as a road-surface additive. When
• Fuel spills can dissolve the ‘glue’ (often asphalt) that exposed to water the bacteria produce crack-?lling
binds pieces of paving materials, like stone or gravel, calcium compounds.
together. This leaves stones exposed and wheels begin
to break apart the surface, causing potholes. At the • In July, the Netherlands-based engineering firm
DuPont Global Paving Center in Prague, scientists VolkerWessels revealed its PlasticRoad system. Roads
receive samples of asphalt from around the world and are built from prefabricated section made entirely
blend in polymers to help roads resist degradation by from recycled plastics (bottles, bags, you name
fuel. it). Placed on a substrate of sand or gravel, the
PlasticRoad is hollow, allowing for the placement of
• Engineers at the University of Cambridge, in England, conduits for utilities, storm water, and ?ber-optic
have developed a sodium silicate–based mending cables. Company of?cials have said they hope to begin
agent that ?lls ?ssures and binds together fractured installing the PlasticRoad within three years.
pavement. Packed into plastic capsules that are
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