Fluorosurfactant market

Fluorosurfactant is a long carbon chain having multiple fluorine atoms. It has property of lowering the surface tension of water. Fluorosurfactant is used to produce fluoropolymer and also used as leveling and wetting agent. It has industrial applications in stain repellents and polishes, paints, coatings, wood stains, graphic arts, caulks, adhesives, polymers, waxes, polishes, hard surfaces cleaner, floor strippers, electronics, metal plating, and in oil & gas fields as firefighting foam.

Increasing demand for short-chain fluorosurfactant and better performance of fluorosurfactant than the hydrocarbon surfactants are major factors driving growth of the fluorosurfactant market. Increasing demand for high-performance paints from end-use industries is propelling demand for fluorosurfactant. However, high cost associated with fluorosurfactant and its toxic nature of the substance is restraining growth of market.

Fluorosurfactant Market Taxonomy

On the basis of type, fluorosurfactant market is segmented into:

• Anionic Fluorosurfactant
• Nonionic Fluorosurfactant
• Amphoteric Fluorosurfactant
• Cationic Fluorosurfactant

On the basis of application, fluorosurfactant market is segmented into:

• Paints and coating
• Specialty detergents
• Firefighting
• Oilfield and mining
• Others

Fluorosurfactants has application in the paint and coating sector. Anionic fluorosurfactant is a low foaming and chemically & thermally stable wetting agent. Nonionic fluorosurfactant is used in solder mask, paint, ink, floor wax, pesticides, electronic-cleaning, and electroplating treatment.

Fluorosurfactant Market Outlook

• Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing region in fluorosurfactant market over the forecast period, owing to rapid growth in urbanization and industrialization in this region. China exhibits high demand for paints & coatings, followed by India
• North America is the largest market for fluorosurfactant, owing to significant growth in construction sector in this region, which rises the demand for paints and coatings. Also, increasing shale exploration is in turn escalating the demand for fluorosurfactants in this region
• Fluorosurfactant market in the Europe is growing at slow rate, owing to economic downturn, which is restraining market growth
• Fluorosurfactant is mainly used in oil field industry in the Middle East region to improve performance of aqueous and non-aqueous systems, which provides opportunity for market growth.
• In Latin America, demand for high-quality paint and coatings is high in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. Venezuela is a major oil producer and the construction industry in Brazil and Argentina is projected to witness significant growth due to high disposable incomes.

Key Developments

• In 2016, DIC Corporation launched a new series of pyrolytic fluorosurfactants MEGAFACE DS. In pyrolytic fluorosurfactants fluoro group dissociate on thermal processing. MEGAFACE DS will find application in protective coating for color filters used in Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD). The new product helped DIC Corporation to expand its product portfolio.
• In 2015, DIC Corporation launched new series of fluorosurfactants MEGAFACE RS. The new product has excellent compatibility with wide range of resins for ultra-violet curing on coating film surfaces. The product will find application in small countertop appliances, smartphone covers, refrigerators, and kitchen cabinets. The product was launched during European Coatings SHOW 2015 held in Numberg, Germany.
• In April 2018, Pilot Chemical Company launched new products from its Masurf flurosurfactants line at American Coatings Show held in Indiana, U.S. The products launched were Masurf FS-3335A and Masurf FS-3330A. Masurf FS-3335A offers excellent wetting, antiblock and dirt resistance properties and can be used in architectural coatings, wood coatings and floor care formulations. Masurf FS-3330A offers oil & grease resistance to wood, stone, concrete, and tile surfaces.

Major players operating in fluorosurfactant market include The Chemours Company (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), The 3M Company (U.S.), OMNOVA Solutions, Inc. (U.S.), Tyco International Plc. (Ireland), Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. (Japan), DIC Corporation (Japan), Innovative Chemical Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), and Advanced Polymers, Inc. (U.S.).