Fluorotelomers Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Application, By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, RoW), And Segment Forecasts, 2015 - 2020

Industry Insights

Fluorotelomers are primarily fluorocarbon-based telomers or oligomers, manufactured by polymerization. Fluorotelomers find applications in fire-fighting foams, food packaging, stain resistance, and textiles. Fluorotelomers are also applied to food contact papers to enable them to be resistant to absorbing oil from fatty or fried foods. Fluorotelomer coatings find uses in microwave bags, fast food packaging, confectionery, and box packaging.

The global market for fluorotelomers is still perceived to be at a nascent stage with the significant untapped potential to be unlocked, especially in substitution applications for other fluorochemical compounds. In terms of environmental impact, fluorotelomer products are non-toxic, do not bio-accumulate in animals, do not concentrate up the food chain, and in general, are not harmful to organisms.

In terms of degradation, fluorotelomers do not break down to PFOS (Perfluorooctanyl Sulphonate) but rather into fluorotelomer sulphonate which although is persistent, it is neither bio-accumulative nor toxic in nature. Fluorotelomer demand is expected to be driven by growing demand from application markets including fire-fighting foams and textiles, coupled with a favorable regulatory scenario, encouraging the replacement of harmful fluorocarbon.

The demand for fluorotelomers is increasing in niche industries, including semiconductor, metal plating, and photography owing to its environmental-friendly features. Furthermore, the latest developments in small & specialized applications, including optics, pharmacology, electronics, and repellents & surfactants are expected to offer significant opportunities for the fluorotelomers globally. The end-user industries are shifting towards technological advancements, which is expected to attract the young population across the world and is thus further going to boost the demand for fluorotelomers.

Furthermore, the manufacturing of primary raw materials of fluorotelomers such as tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, and hexafluoropropene are likely to have strict regulatory control at both regional and international level. In addition, the hazardous effects of these raw materials may challenge the market growth. Tetrafluoroethylene is declared toxic under the National Toxicology Program by the Department of Health and Human Services. Chlorotrifluoroethylene has acute toxicity, so it is a hazardous health chemical. All these raw materials have high toxicity levels, which are dangerous to health as well as to the environment. Rising concerns for health and environment among the consumers is likely to challenge the market growth.

Application Insights

Major Fluorotelomer applications include fire-fighting foams, food packaging, stain-resistant, and textiles. Foams and textiles dominated the global market, accounting for over 67% of the total fluorotelomer demand in 2013.  Increasing textile applications for fluorotelomers are expected to present industry participants with significant opportunities over the next six years and expected to grow at a brisk rate. Other emerging fluorotelomer applications include metal plating industry, paper for glossy magazines, photographic industry, and semi-conductors which are presently the subject of R&D.

Product Insights

Key fluorotelomer products include fluorotelomer alcohols, acrylates, iodides among others. Fluorotelomer alcohols, such as dominated the global market, accounting for over 32% of total volume demand in 2013.

Fluorotelomer iodides such as TEAC 4, TEAC 6, and TEMAC 6 are expected to be the fastest-growing segment over the next six years.

Regional Insights

North America and Asia Pacific dominated fluorotelomer consumption, accounting for over 68% of global volume in 2013. With a leading position in the manufacturing of textiles, carpets, and surfactants, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for fluorotelomers, at an estimated CAGR of 12.9% from 2014 to 2020.

Fluorotelomers Market Share Insights

The global fluorotelomer market is highly regularized and technology-centric. DuPont dominates the market, being a pioneer for fluorotelomer technology. Other notable companies operating in this market include Fluoryx Inc., Wilshire Technologies, Fluorous Technologies Inc., and TCI Chemicals. 

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