2012-11-23 11:52:27 - Polymeric Foams - a new market research report on companiesandmarkets.com

The research forecasts an overall compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.5% for all foams produced from commercial plastics for the period 2010-2015. This market is valued at 7.5 billion pounds in 2010 and is expected to reach nearly 8.6 billion pounds in 2015. Polyolefins, both polyethylenes and polypropylene foams, have a growing market of about 443 million pounds in 2010. A higher compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8%, and a value of 509 million pounds, is forecast for 2015, based on increasing demand for cross-linked polyethylene foams in several applications. Polyurethane (PUR) foams, both flexible foams used primarily for cushioning and rigid foams used mostly for thermal insulation, have the largest market, 3.9 billion pounds in 2010,

 

 

with a predicted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6% to 4.4 billion pounds in 2015.This report is segmented into 10 sections, beginning with this Introduction. The Summary that follows encapsulates our findings and conclusions, and includes a summary major market table. Here, the busy executive can find the major findings of the study in summary format.

An Overview to the industry follows, starting with an introduction to the petrochemical industry that is the source of polymers and the plastic resin industries that make the resins that go into polymer foams. Polymeric foams are introduced and each of the major foamed plastics and their principal foam structures are discussed. The section ends with a discussion of some competing foam materials, thus introducing the reader to the field of polymers and foamed plastics and foam structures.

The Polymer Foam Markets by Material Type section discusses and forecasts markets for foamed plastics by type. These include three classes of major commodity thermoplastic resins used to produce foams: polyolefins (primarily polyethylenes and polypropylene), polystyrene and PS copolymers, and polyvinyl chloride and copolymers. The largest foamed polymer group, the polyurethanes (PURs), comprises the major focus. Some specialty foams are included, as well as market estimates and forecasts for plastic foam blowing agents and PUR raw material isocyanates and polyols.

The section begins with an overall market analysis, estimate, and forecast for the major types of polymeric foams for the base year of 2009 and 5-year forecast for the 2010 and 2015 period. Each type of foam is then described in more detail with a discussion of important applications and more-detailed market forecasts.

The second market analysis section, Polymer Foam Markets by Applications, discusses and forecasts markets by polymer foam applications. Applications have been categorized into seven specific major groups:
•Appliances, primarily thermal insulation
•Building/construction, primarily insulation and PVC profiles/shapes
•Electrical/electronics, with the largest market in acoustical and noise-control foams
•Furniture and furnishings, mainly comfort cushioning
•Medical applications
•Packaging, both functional and product protection
•Transportation, primarily cushioning.t Organization (Continued)
A group of other applications, including sports equipment, shoe insoles and powder puffs, ends the section.

The next section, Technology, starts with a review of some basic polymer chemistry, manufacture, and properties of plastics used in producing plastic foams and then progresses on to conventional foam technologies. Some new polymer foam technologies are covered, including new blowing agents, polyol technology, and microcellular foams. A discussion of polymer recycling technology rounds out the Technology section.

The Industry Structure and Competitive Analysis section covers the structure of the polymeric foams industry and emphasizes the major domestic producers and suppliers, as well as trends in the industry. Some international aspects of the business are also discussed and analyzed, including the global nature of the polymer foam industry, major foreign-owned supplier companies that operate in the U.S., and trends outside the U.S.

The Environmental, Regulatory, and Public Policy Issues section follows, items of increasing importance to the polymer foams industry. Several of the most important environmental and regulatory considerations are linked, since governments around the world seem to have decided that regulations are the best means of achieving environmental ends such as saving the earth´s ozone layer and reducing greenhouse gases. Getting agreement on international cooperation and action is another matter.

This report´s last narrative section, Company Profiles, lists many supplier companies that BCC Research considers to be among the most important and/or best representatives of the polymer foam business.

Finally, this report ends with an Appendix containing a glossary of some important terms, abbreviations, and acronyms used in the chemical, polymer, and polymer foams industries.Chapters from this report can be purchased separately. Please contact us to find out more about this offer.

Click for report details: www.companiesandmarkets.com/Market/Chemicals/Market-Research/Pol ..

Browse all Chemicals Market Research Reports www.companiesandmarkets.com/Market/Chemicals/Market-Research?aCo ..

Browse all Chemicals Company Profile Reports www.companiesandmarkets.com/Market/Chemicals/Company-Profile?aCo ..

Browse all Latest Market Research Reports www.companiesandmarkets.com/Market/All/Market-Research?aCode=f3f ..

About Us
Companiesandmarkets.com is a leading online business information aggregator with over 300,000 market reports and company profiles available to our clients. Our extensive range of reports are sourced from the leading publishers of business information and provide clients with the widest range of information available. In terms of company profiles, Companiesandmarkets.com’s online database allows clients access to market and corporate information to over 100,000 different companies. We provide clients with a fully indexed database of information where clients can find specific market reports on their niche industry sectors of interest.