Opacifiers Market

Introduction

Opacifiers are additives that are added to transparent objects in order to make them opaque. The process of converting a transparent object into opaque with the help of opacifiers is carried out through three mechanisms: thermal expansion, crystallization, and suspended micro-bubbles. Tin oxide and zircon compounds are two common opacifiers.

Opacifiers Market: Overview

Growth in the paints & coatings industry, especially in emerging economies such as India, China, Brazil, and Argentina, is the major factor driving the opacifiers market. Development of new technologies to enhance the performance of coatings is also boosting the opacifiers market. However, volatility in prices of raw materials is likely to hamper the opacifiers market during the forecast period. Additionally, underdeveloped personal care, construction, and paints & coatings industries in several economies such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Africa, and a few countries in Latin America is adversely affecting the opacifiers market. Nevertheless, the research and development work carried out by major manufactures of opacifiers in order to enhance their properties is estimated to offer lucrative opportunities to the opacifiers market during the forecast period.

Based on type, the global opacifiers market can be segmented into titanium dioxide, opaque polymers, zircon, zinc oxide, cerium oxide, and antimony trioxide. In terms of revenue, titanium dioxide was the major segment of the global opacifiers market in 2017. This can be primarily ascribed to the expansion in paints & coatings, personal care, and plastic industries. Based on application, the global opacifiers market can be segregated into paints & coatings, plastics, ceramics, paper, inks, fibers, personal care, home care, and glass. The paints & coatings segment is anticipated to dominate the global opacifiers market during the forecast owing to the increase in demand for coatings with better performance and durability in the end-use industry.

Opacifiers Market: Trends & Developments

Leading manufacturers of opacifiers and research institutions are aiming to improve the properties of opacifiers in order to meet the rising demand from various end-use industries. Key manufacturers are also focusing on developing EVOQUE pre-composite polymer technology, which is 100% acrylic pre-composite polymers and offers better wet and dry hiding efficiency coupled with improved performance property for opaque polymers.

Opacifiers Market: Regional Outlook

Asia Pacific is expected to be a lucrative region of the global opacifiers market during the forecast period owing to the rise in demand for personal care products, especially in emerging economies such as India, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. High adoption rate of opacifiers in Asia Pacific is also supported by the rapid growth in the construction industry in the region.

Opacifiers Market: Key Players

Major players operating in the global opacifiers market include DowDuPont, Arkema, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Tayca Corporation, Chemours Company, Tronox Limited, Kronos Worldwide Inc., Cristal, Alkane Resources Ltd, En-tech Polymer Co. Ltd., and Venator.