Inorganic Scintillators Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Alkali Halides, Oxide Compounds, Rare Earth Metals) By Material (Sodium Iodide, Cesium Iodide, LOLYO) By End-use, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global inorganic scintillators market size was estimated to be USD 337.8 million in 2016. Rising demand for scintillating materials from the medical, security, and defense is expected to result in a positive impact on the overall industry.

The present trend of heavy reliance towards radiological imaging for the necessary diagnostic medicine is expected to be crucial for the growth of inorganic scintillating materials market. Sodium iodide is used extensively in the medical imaging sector owing to its high resolution and high light output coupled with an attractive price point. This has led to the rising demand for scintillating crystals in the medical industry.

U.S. inorganic scintillators market revenue, by end-use, 2014 - 2025 (USD Million)

Radiation detection materials are being used for domestic security purposes owing to the rising threat of nuclear bombs and terrorist attacks. This has resulted in the U.S. and European governments increasing their security by placing radiation detection equipment at points of entry at various ports, stations, and airports.

Emerging economies including India and China are improving their security systems including stations, ports, and airports by installing radiation detection systems. The emerging markets are expected to be high potential markets over the overcast period.

Material Insights

Sodium iodide is the largest segment for inorganic scintillators in 2015, accounting for 36.6% of the global revenue share. Thallium activated sodium iodide is the most dominant scintillation material used. This is a result of its superior properties at an extremely affordable price point. Its excellent light yield coupled with its luminescence spectrum is well matched to present photomultiplier tubes.

Global inorganic scintillators market, by material, 2016 (%)

Cesium iodide is another major material used in the medical imaging sector and the security industry and accounted for 15.3% of the global revenue share. Its hygroscopic nature and shock sensitivity have resulted in increasing its market penetration in various mobile detection systems.it is usually preferred where low and high energy gamma rays are involved. 

Product Insights

Alkali halides are the largest segment for inorganic scintillators in 2015, accounting for 51.8% of the global revenue share. Superior properties such as high resolution, sensitivity, and efficiency has led to their widespread use in the medical imaging and devices sector. This is expected to result in the expansion of the market over the forecast period.

Rare earth metals were the second largest segment accounting for 36.6% of the global revenue share in 2015. Rare earth scintillation materials are extensively being used as radiation detection materials. The excellent properties of these materials have resulted in increasing their level of market penetration over the forecast period.

End-use Insights

The healthcare sector was the largest end-use segment for inorganic scintillators in 2015, accounting for 51.1% of the global revenue share. The x-ray imaging industry is going through a transition from thin film to digital which took place in the photography sector over the past decade. Early adoption in the medical industry in terms of moving towards digital and digital x-ray imaging has become the latest trend.

Detector prices over the past few years have dropped which has resulted in lowering the prices for scintillating materials. The nuclear power plant sector was the second largest segment for inorganic scintillators accounting for 25.2% of the global revenue share in 2015. Growing trend of using nuclear energy has resulted in increasing market penetration of radiation detection materials.

Regional Insights

North America was the largest market accounting for 40.8% of the global revenue in 2015. Growing demand for advanced medical equipment coupled with rising focus on nuclear power and improvement in the security is expected to result in expansion of the market over the forecast period.

Europe was the second largest market accounting for 29.8% of the global revenue in 2015. Growing threat of terrorism and the increasing defense research and development have resulted in propelling growth over the past few years.

Inorganic Scintillators Market Share Insights

The global inorganic scintillators market players are spread across the value chain of the inorganic scintillators market. The value chain of inorganic scintillators materials starts with raw material suppliers. These raw materials form the basis of the scintillator material to be used in equipment for radiation detection. Suppliers of materials supply it to scintillator material manufacturers (processors) which in turn supply it to equipment manufacturers post processing.

Key industry players in the market include Dynasil Corporation of America, Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Hitachi Metals Group, Detec, Rexon Components, Inc., Saint-Gobain S.A., Scintacor, Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd., EPIC Crystal Co., Ltd., Amcrys, Shanghai Siccas High Technology Corporation, Alpha Spectra, Inc, Nihon Kessho Kogaku Co., Ltd.

Report Scope

Segments covered in the report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis on the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global inorganic scintillators market on the basis of product, materials, end-use, and region.

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Alkali Halides

  • Oxide Compounds

  • Rare Earth Metals

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 -  2025)

  • Sodium Iodide

  • Cesium Iodide

  • Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate & Lutetium–Yttrium Oxyorthosilicate

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Healthcare

  • Homeland Security & Defense

  • Nuclear Power Plants

  • Industrial Applications

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • The U.S.

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

  • RoW

    • Brazil