Market Research Report on Plastics Compounding Industry [2015]

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Plastics Compounding Market Industry 2015

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Summary
The North American market for thermoplastic
compounds reached 87.33 billion pounds in 2014.
This market is expected to grow from 88.78
billion pounds in 2015 to 100.2 billion pounds by
2020, registering a compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of 2.4 over the next five years. This
report provides -An overview of the plastics
compounding market. -Analyses of global market
trends, with data from 2014, estimates for 2015,
and projections of CAGRs through 2020. -Coverage
of the major thermoplastic resins and
thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) the report also
includes bio compounds, or plastics that are made
from plants instead of hydrocarbons.
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-Identifications of major resin producers, key
plastics processors, and independent compounders,
along with activities, product lines, and
estimated sales for the major independent
compounders. -Reviews of key plastics additives
used in plastics compounding and advances in
plastics compounding machinery/equipment. -Inform
ation on major fillers/reinforcements. -Developme
nts in carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes, and
advances in natural fibers.
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BACKGROUND This report is an update of one
published in November 2013 by the same author, a
Ph.D. chemical engineer who has written many BCC
Research reports on plastics. The term plastics
in this report refers to thermoplastic organic
polymers, also commonly called resins. The
majority of the plastics discussed in this study
are large-volume commodity resins produced from
petrochemical feedstocks they include familiar
resins and resin families -Polyethylenes (PEs of
several types). -Polypropylene (PP). -Polystyrene
(PS). -Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its
copolymers. -Thermoplastic polyesters (the most
common one of which is polyethylene terephthalate
or PET).
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We also include in this study some more specialty
engineering resins such as polyamides (nylons)
and polycarbonate. To be thorough, we also
include an introduction to some newer biopolymers
made from biological instead of petrochemical
feedstocks, as well as thermoplastic
elastomers. The subject of this study is
plastics compounding. What is compounding? As
plastic resins leave the chemical polymerization
reactor in which they are formed, they are neat
polymers that is, they are essentially pure
compounds consisting only of the molecules of the
polymer produced. Some of these resins, like PVC,
are almost impossible to process as neat
polymers additional chemicals and other
materials must be added to make them commercially
useful. For other resins, like high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) that can be satisfactorily
processed in neat form, in virtually all cases
some additive or additives are used, such a
colorants, to add color to the formed product
like an HDPE white milk bottle or a colored motor
oil bottle, or a UV absorber to prevent
discoloration from exposure to sunlight.
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This process of adding other materials is defined
as compounding, or, the creation of a compound, a
mixture. The additives that are added to neat
polymers include colorants, stabilizers, flame
retardants, impact modifiers, plasticizers and
dozens of others, including a lot of important
fillers and reinforcements. Plastic compounding
is a big business that is done by three different
kinds of companies. These companies are usually
grouped either as resin producers, plastics
processors (that is, firms that process and shape
resins and compounds by injection or blow
molding, thermoforming, and extruding) and
independent compounders. Some companies perform
more than one of these activities.
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SCOPE OF THE REPORT This report covers the
compounding of major thermoplastic resins. The
high-volume commodity resins include high-density
polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene
(LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE),
polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyesters
(primarily PET). Engineering thermoplastics
(ETPs) covered include polybutylene terephthalate
(PBT), nylons (polyamides), polycarbonates,
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymers (ABS)
and some real specialties like polyacetals and
polysulfones. This report also includes an
introduction to thermoplastic elastomers and some
biocompoundsplastics that are made from plants
instead of hydrocarbons. It excludes
thermosetting resins, since they have different
chemistries and are usually processed
differently.
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The plastics compounding market is segmented by
each of the above resins and by each of the three
plastics compounding groups. Applications and
markets by volume in pounds or value in dollars
are estimated for the years 2014, 2015, and a
five-year forecast to 2020. Major resin
producers, key plastics processors and
independent compounders are identified. We
discuss the activities, product lines and other
information for the major independent
compounders. Our market estimates are mostly for
markets for the United States or North America.
Other features in this report include the
following -Review of key plastics additives
used in plastics compounding. -Important
information on major fillers/reinforcements. -Deve
lopments in carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes for
reinforcement of thermoplastics. -Advances in
natural fiber reinforcements.
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REASONS FOR DOING STUDY Plastics compounding is
a big business (or group of businesses) that is
of interest to a wide group of organizations and
individuals involved in the design, development,
manufacture, sale and use of plastics and
plastics compounds and products made from
them. Report updates this study to provide a new
and comprehensive reference for those involved in
and interested in plastics and plastics
compounds. We have sorted through, organized and
condensed information from a number of sources
and reference materials to compile this report.
We have tried to cover the overall market, and in
doing so have included several critical issues
that should shape plastics compounding for the
next five years. These include biocompounds,
carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, natural fiber
reinforcements and environmental regulations.
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METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES Extensive
searches were made of the literature and the
Internet, including leading trade journals,
technical papers, company literature, government
information, pertinent trade associations, etc.
Much product and market information was obtained
from the industry principals involved. The
information in our company profiles was obtained
primarily from the companies themselves,
especially the larger publicly owned firms. Other
sources include directories, articles and
Internet sites.
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Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION 2 SUMMARY 3 OVERVIEW 4
RESINS 5 BIOCOMPOUNDS 6 PLASTICS ADDITIVES 7
FILLERS AND REINFORCEMENTS 8 MASTERBATCHES
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