US demand to grow 5.5% yearly to 2009
US specialty foam demand is projected to expand 5.5 percent annually to $1.3 billion in 2009, comprising 506 million pounds. Gains will reflect improvements in the economy and greater needs for lower cost and higher performance materials in various sectors.
Engineered plastic, PUR will remain dominant foams
Polyurethane and engineered plastic will remain the dominant plastic foams, with the best growth expected in the lower volume fluoropolymers and silicones. Specialty polyurethane foam demand will be stimulated by opportunities in areas such as air and fluid filtration, gaskets and acoustical insulation. Particularly good growth is expected for hydrophilic (water absorbing) foam in areas such as wound dressings and as delivery vehicles. Engineered plastic foam advantages include good dielectric properties, strength and temperature resistance. Primary applications for polyphenylene oxide and polycarbonate foams are in housings and other enclosures for electronic products, and polyimide foam is used in high performance thermal and acoustical insulation.
Nonplastic foams will increase at a faster pace than plastic types, particularly ceramics and metals. Ceramic and metal foams will experience the fastest growth due to advancing catalyst substrate, metal filtration and other applications. In the metal category, nascent materials such as aluminum foam also have strong potential in areas such as energy absorption and diesel particulate filters. Good growth is also expected for foam glass in thermal insulation applications.
Industrial markets to present best growth opportunities
Electrical/electronic and industrial markets will continue to account for over one half of all demand due to widespread structural, filtering, sealing and insulating requirements. Industrial markets for specialty foams will ponehalfresent the best opportunities in areas such as thermal insulation, gaskets, and machinery seals and filters. Electrical and electronic markets will be driven by expanding needs for higher performing structural, filtering, sealing and insulation materials.
Transportation equipment markets will be driven by safety and fuel efficiency concerns in motor vehicle, aircraft, marine and other applications. Advances in medical and health care markets will be stimulated by widespread disposable medical supply applications, particularly wound dressings.
US industry highly fragmented
The US specialty foam industry is comprised of several hundred producers, fabricators, molders and applicators. Segments such as polyurethane are highly competitive and fragmented, while glass and nickel foam are dominated by several large players.
Continued consolidation trends are expected in light of needs to broaden geographic reach and product lines, including acquiring offshore production capabilities in more rapidly growing areas such as Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
Study coverage
This new Freedonia study, Specialty Foams, which provides historical US demand data for 1994, 1999 and 2004, as well as forecasts to 2009 and 2014 by type, market and application. This study also considers US market environment indicators, evaluates company market shares and profiles 32 industry players. | 
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