Unidirectional Tapes Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Resin Type (Thermoplastic, Thermoset), By Fiber (Carbon, Glass, Other Fiber), By End-use (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Unidirectional Tapes Market Size & Trends

The global unidirectional tapes market size was valued at USD 236.3 million in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.4% from 2023 to 2030. The rapidly increasing demand for lightweight components in the automotive and aerospace industries is expected to drive the demand for unidirectional (UD) tapes over the forecast period. Temporary closure of industrial operations to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak across the globe negatively impacted manufacturing operations in 2020. This hampered the product demand in the automotive and aerospace parts manufacturing operations. An increase in the usage of automotive adhesive tapes for bonding electronic products in car interiors, coupled with the rising production of electric and hybrid vehicles in the U.S., is anticipated to trigger the growth.

In addition, the high sensitivity of manufacturers located in the economy towards automobile aesthetics is expected to benefit the market. The development of advanced products for sealing, coupled with rising investments in R&D for the production of advanced high-strength adhesive tapes, is projected to drive product demand over the forecast period. In addition, the development of eco-friendly solvent recovery technology used for the coating of adhesives is expected to drive product demand in the coming years.

The market is expected to be driven by the growth in the usage of UD tapes as a replacement for metals in exterior and interior systems in automobiles and aircraft for the reduction of their overall weight by about 40%, to achieve high fuel efficiency levels, and reduce the emission levels to the outer atmosphere. The market growth is expected to be restrained by the high cost of unidirectional tapes as compared to metals. Manufacturers usually prefer metals in all major applications to reduce their production costs. Furthermore, the market is concentrated in North America and Europe, due to which, the product adoption is significantly low in other regions, thus limiting the market growth.

Resin Type Insights

The thermoplastic segment accounted for the largest revenue share of 72.0% in 2022 and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 16.6% during the forecast period. The product offers exceptional strength, flexibility, and durability for in-situ consolidation, press molding, and autoclave manufacturing processes and thus is widely utilized in bonding applications in the automotive and aerospace industries.

UD tapes are an advanced composite material that is manufactured using carbon fiber or glass fiber impregnated with thermoplastic polymer including Polyether Ketone Ketone (PEEK) or Polyamide 12 (PA12) as a thermoplastic matrix. The product offers exceptional strength, flexibility, and durability for in-situ consolidation, press molding, and autoclave manufacturing processes.

UD tapes are derived through raw uncured resin molecules that are cross-linked through a catalytic chemical reaction. The uncured state of the material is primarily in liquid form, which allows for convenient impregnation of various reinforcement fibers including carbon fiber and fiberglass to form the UD tape of desired dimensions.

The thermoset UD tapes are resistant to corrosion, heat, and solvents and offer exceptional adhesion. The product also has high fatigue strength and elasticity, which make it suitable for various end-use applications including airplane wing spars, military vests & helmets, radome (structural weatherproof enclosure that protects a radar antenna), satellite mold joining, and F1 racing cars chassis structure.

Fiber Insights

The carbon fiber segment accounted for the largest revenue share of 80.9% in 2022. Carbon fiber is primarily 15% lighter than glass fiber, 40% lighter than aluminum, and approximately 70% lighter than steel, which makes it a lightweight, strong, and rigid reinforced material. As a result, it is used in door panels & chassis of cars, reinforcements insert in military vehicles & protective equipment including vests and helmets, and winding pipes & containers in other utility services.

The rising demand for outdoor recreational and sports equipment is further expected to increase the carbon fiber UD tapes demand in sports & leisure and automotive application segments. The carbon fiber UD tape offers excellent conformity and drapes for marine (yacht stringer reinforcement), motorsport (aero wings, structural components), sporting equipment (skis, archery bow limbs, etc.), and pipe wrapping/reinforcement applications.

The glass fiber material segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 16.4% over the forecast period. The high tensile strength of glass fiber as compared to steel wires of the same diameter coupled with a lower weight makes it a suitable choice to produce UD tapes. Glass fibers are used in producing structural composites and a wide variety of special-purpose products, such as frame and mold joining parts in aircraft, boats, rockets, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

End-use Insights

The aerospace & defense segment held the largest revenue share of 49.2% in 2022 and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 16.4% over the forecast period. It is likely to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. Thermoplastic and thermosets UD tapes are used in primary and secondary aircraft structures and high-load aircraft interior applications including fuselage, wings, cargo liners, bulkheads/class dividers, and lavatory modules.

The increase in usage of UD tapes in high-end cars and e-vehicles or Electric Vehicles (EVs) is expected to increase their penetration in the automotive industry. The reduction in vehicular weight helps increase its mileage and speed. Their usage in EVs helps increase the car range on a single charge. The governments across several countries including India, Australia, and Canada are undertaking several initiatives to promote the usage of e-vehicles, thus benefitting the UD tape market.

The UD carbon fiber or glass fiber tapes have exceptional fatigue resistance, and rigidity and are lightweight, as a result, they can also be used as a laminated sheet or sleeve once placed at certain angles to manufacture prosthetic blades, which are extensively used by Paralympic sprinters. In addition, UD tapes are used to produce the sole of cycling or sprinting shoes, which offer high stiffness along with minimal weight in racing applications.

Other applications include oil & gas, medical, and warehousing & logistics. Fiber reinforcements with a variety of polymer matrices including polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyethylene, and polypropylene provide structural stiffness and strength to the tape that is used in the above-mentioned application industries.

UD tapes products are widely used in automotive products, such as auto parts, oil paints, coatings, lightweight hemp plastics, and related composites, for use as an alternative to fiberglass in the automotive and aviation sectors. Several European automobile manufacturers are adopting natural fiber composites on account of the increasingly stringent regulations related to harmful synthetic materials, which is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

Europe dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 39.8% in 2022 and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period. This positive outlook is due to a rise in demand from the automobile manufacturing industries that are aiming to procure materials for weight reduction. Moreover, switching trends for EVs are likely to incorporate the utilization of lightweight components, and thus are likely to have a positive impact on the market.

North America accounted for 39.7% of revenue share in 2022. Robust aerospace and automobile manufacturing industries in the region coupled with the growing demand for lightweight vehicles are expected to increase product demand over the forecast period. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards introduced in the U.S. to improve fuel economy support the utilization of lightweight components in passenger cars and light truck production in the U.S. The recent upgrades in the CAFE policy in 2018 have augmented the utilization of light bonding materials that can reduce the bonding materials’ weight by nearly 70%, Hence, boosting the product demand.

Automobile production in China, India, and Japan accounted for the largest share in the APAC region. Companies, such as Honda Motor Company, Ltd., Suzuki Motor Corp., Hyundai Motor Company, and Tata Motors, are operating large production facilities and are incorporating lightweight technology for vehicles; thus, are estimated to upscale the utilization of UD tapes in automobile manufacturing.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The unidirectional tapes market is primarily consolidated in the U.S. and various European countries including Germany, U.K., Belgium, and the Netherlands. The market is moderately competitive owing to the presence of a limited set of players majorly concentrated in the U.K. and Germany.

Continuous research & development in the designing and manufacturing of composite materials is expected to shape the fine production of UD tapes in the market. Various companies are expanding their manufacturing capabilities to gain a competitive advantage in the market. For instance, in May 2021, Toray Advanced Composites announced to expand its thermoplastic composite material capabilities to advance its ‘Cetex’ brand of reinforced thermoplastic composite laminates and UD tapes.

Recent Development

• In January 2022, Evonik Industries AG received certification from DNV for its VESTAPE PA12-CF (PA12) unidirectional tape, indicating its suitability for use in dynamic applications involving hydrocarbons, water, and gas injection. Evonik's achievement reinforces its position as a trusted provider of high-quality materials for critical applications in the energy sector, further strengthening its presence in the market

• In January 2020, Hexcel Corporation, a renowned supplier of advanced composites, partnered with Madshus Global, a prominent innovator in cross-country skiing, to initiate a collaboration aimed at pioneering an inventive series of dry carbon fiber tapes. The revolutionary HiTape Dry Carbon Tapes introduced by Hexcel represents a significant advancement, bringing about substantial improvements in performance, manufacturing efficiency, and surface refinement for Madshus Skis. This collaborative endeavor aspires to deliver unparalleled composite solutions, empowering Madshus to finely tune the performance and quality of their skis, thus solidifying their competitive prowess within the market

Unidirectional Tapes Market Report Scope

Global Unidirectional Tapes Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global unidirectional tapes market based on resin type, fiber, end-use, and region:

• Resin Type Outlook (Revenue, USD million; Volume, Thousand Square Meters, 2018 - 2030)

  • Thermoset

  • Thermoplastic

• Fiber Outlook (Revenue, USD million; Volume, Thousand Square Meters, 2018 - 2030)

  • Glass Fiber

  • Carbon Fiber

  • Other Fiber

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD million; Volume, Thousand Square Meters, 2018 - 2030)

  • Aerospace & Defense

  • Automotive

  • Sports & Leisure

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD million; Volume, Thousand Square Meters, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • South Korea

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East and Africa

    • Saudi Arabia