WATER BASED COLLOIDAL GRAPHITE MARKET ANALYSIS

Colloidal graphite is made up of very fine graphite flakes suspended in liquids such as water, alcohol, petroleum oil, castor oil, glycerin, and others. Colloidal graphite dispersed in distilled water is known as water based colloidal graphite. Excellent lubricity, high conductivity, high adsorption, catalytic capabilities, and high plasticity are all characteristics of water based colloidal graphite. It is used in cathode ray tubes.

Global water based colloidal graphite market is expected to surpass US$ 1,169.2 million by the end of 2030, exhibiting at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period (2022 to 2030).

Global Water-Based Colloidal Graphite Market - Drivers

• Increasing demand for water based colloidal graphite from forging & die-casting industries: Global water based colloidal graphite market is expected to  witness growth due to increased demand for water based colloidal graphite from the forging and die-casting industries. Forging & die-casting industries are manufacturing process industry involving the shaping of metal by moulding or using compressive forces. Colloidal graphite is used as a lubricant in forging & die-casting industries to separate the die from the work piece. The lubricant helps in reducing wear & tear of the expensive forging dies. Oil-based colloidal graphite solutions used during normal forging operations produces carbon smoke that can be toxic in nature. Due to environmental concerns, key players operating in the forging industry are shifting their focus towards use of environment-friendly lubricants such as water based colloidal graphite solutions. Increasing demand for environment friendly solutions from forging industry is expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period.
• Advantages offered by water based colloidal graphite products: Water based colloidal graphite product produces a smooth, dry coating with an extra-long wear lifespan that adheres well to most substrates. Furthermore, it develops suspension qualities with ease, reducing the need for stirring or agitation.

Figure 1. Global Water Based Colloidal Graphite Market, Revenue Share (%), By Region, 2022

Global Water Based Colloidal Graphite Market-Regional Analysis

Among region, Asia Pacific dominated the global water based colloidal graphite market in 2022 Due to Large Number of Industries Present In Asia Pacific, accounting for 60% share, in terms of revenue, followed by Europe and Latin America, respectively. Global water based colloidal graphite market is expected to witness growth over the  forecast period due to increased demand for Water based Colloidal Graphite from the forging and die-casting industries.

Global Water Based Colloidal Graphite Market- Restraints

• Availability of various substitutes such as oil-based colloidal graphite: During the forecast period, global water based colloidal graphite market growth can be hampered by the availability of various substitutes such as oil-based colloidal graphite, water based non-graphite lubricants, and boron nitride suspension. Water based colloidal graphite requires agitation to ensure a homogeneous mixture throughout the ready-for-use product when diluted. Whereas, water-based non-graphite solutions are true solutions and require no agitation after mixing, and thus, making it a suitable lubricant in the forging industry. Water-Based Colloidal Graphite can cause plugging problems in spray application and dilution equipment if not properly maintained. Whereas, non-graphite products are easier to use with application equipment.
• Counterbalance: Though the market for oil-based colloidal graphite, water-based non-graphite lubricants, and boron nitride suspension can hamper water based colloidal graphite market growth, Still the property of water based colloidal graphite to form a thin and conductive layer on a surface will make it a great choice for its acceptance in electronic market.

Global Water-Based Colloidal Graphite  Market- Opportunities

• High thermal conductivity of water-based colloidal graphite: Water based colloidal graphite is gaining traction for conductive coatings as it has high thermal conductivity and electron mobility along with a high specific surface area, owing to its two-dimensional nanostructure. These factors are expected to increase demand for Water Based Colloidal Graphite for smart textiles.

Global Water-Based Colloidal Graphite Market- Trends

Emerging trends that seem to have a direct influence on market expansion include acquisitions and mergers by key players. Several key players are engaging in strategies such as acquisition and merger, in order to improve market position in the Global Water-Based Colloidal Graphite Market. For instance, in July 2021, Asbury Carbons, Inc., a global processor of carbon and graphite materials, announced that it had acquired Garmor, Inc., a Florida-based innovative materials firm with a patented, environmentally safe technology, for commercializing Edge Functionalized Graphene (EFG).

Figure 2. Global Water Based Colloidal Graphite Market, Revenue Share (%), By Application, 2022

Global Water-Based Colloidal Graphite Market- Segmentation

On the basis of application, lubricant/release agent (forging, die casting & extrusion) segment dominated the global water based colloidal graphite market in 2022, accounting for 64% of market share, in terms of revenue, followed by anti-static coatings, conductive ink, and others (Smart Fabrics etc.),

Global Water Based Colloidal Graphite Market - Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The COVID-19 had negative influence on the global water based colloidal graphite market. Along with lockdown in China, India, and The U.S., other countries were also accountable for disruptions in the supply chain. Furthermore, COVID-19  had a major impact on the global economy in three ways: by directly impacting production and demand, by disrupting supply chains, and through financial impact on businesses and financial markets. As a result, all forging and die-casting production facilities were temporarily shut down, and caused supply chain and logistics disruptions across the globe. As majority of water based colloidal graphite is used in the forging and die-casting industries, therefore, temporary shutdown of the die forging and die-casting industries and interruption of the supply chain hampered the global water based colloidal graphite market growth during COVID-19 pandemic.

Global Water Based Colloidal Graphite Market- Competitive Section

Key players operating in the global water based colloidal graphite market include American Elements, Asbury Carbons Inc., Benzer Dental AG,  Chem-Verse Consultants (India) Private Ltd. Fuchs Petrolub SE, Henkel AG, Imerys S.A., Kaiyu Industrial (HK) Limited, Ted Pella, Inc., and Quaker Houghton.

Recent Developments-

In May 2017, the company announced that its graphite division - Graphite AMG, completed the commissioning process at its Ancuabe graphite mine in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique. Production has resume in May 2017, with an annual production capacity of 9,000 metric tons.

*Definition: Colloidal graphite is made up of very fine graphite flakes suspended in liquids such as water, alcohol, petroleum oil, castor oil, glycerin, and others. Colloidal graphite dispersed in distilled water is known as water based colloidal graphite. Excellent lubricity, high conductivity, high adsorption, catalytic capabilities, and high plasticity are all characteristics of water based colloidal graphite. It is used in cathode ray tubes.