Nanotubes poised to reshape many industries
For more than a decade, carbon nanotubes have shown tremendous promise for a myriad of uses but have primarily remained a plaything for chemists and physicists. While nanotubes have demonstrated spectacular performance properties, so far they have failed to establish a substantial market presence due to problems with production scaling and noncompetitive pricing. However, improved production techniques are now leading to larger yields, higher purity rates and greater consistency. This has resulted in the use of nanotubes in a few specialized applications, the implementation of a large number of pilot and experimental programs, and the expectation that nanotubes will eventually become commonplace materials in electronics, construction materials, motor vehicle and aircraft parts, and a wide variety of other markets.
Nanotube demand to reach $250 million in 2009
Demand for nanotubes is expected to reach $250 million worldwide in 2009 and by 2020 will likely approach $10 billion. (This forecast assumes continued success in production technology improvements to bring pricing to a competitive level.) Early successes will be in electronics, where performanceenhancing attributes offered by nanotubes will allow manufacturers of displays and other electronic components to meet increasingly demanding goals. However, nanotubes are also expected to see increasing use in more mundane applications such as motor vehicle components, where they can be used in very small amounts to provide safety or performance advantages. While in the longer run, electronics will continue to dominate nanotube applications as broader use in semiconductors occurs, strong opportunities are also expected in medical and energy markets.
Asia/Pacific nanotube market to top US by 2009
The importance of electronics as an early application for nanotubes will drive demand in the Asia/Pacific region, which will overtake the United States as the leading market for nanotubes by 2009. Strong growth is expected in South Korea, Japan and China. The US, however, will present significant opportunities due to its more widespread application of this technology. Western Europes demand for nanotubes will be concentrated in motor vehicle, electronics and aerospace applications, although numerous niche markets such as sporting goods are also being developed.
Study coverage
Details on these and other key findings are available in the new Freedonia industry study, World Nanotubes, which study provides current demand data and forecasts to 2009, 2014 and 2020 by market, nanotube product, world region and individual key country. The study also considers global market environment indicators, presents information on industry participants (private companies, government agencies and laboratories, and universities with nanotubes research and development activities) and profiles 41 leading industry players including Arkema, Carbon Nanotechnologies, Fullerene International, Hyperion Catalysis, Nanocyl, NanoLab, Nanoledge and Raymor Industries. | 
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