ENGINEERING AND HIGH PERFORMANCE PLASTICS: NOW AND IN 2015

摘要

Out of the total world plastics consumption over 195 million tons forecast estimate for 2005, engineering plastics amount to 7 million tons, and higher performance specialty plastics to close to 300 000 tons. Overall value figures are much higher compared to volume figures. 1. Definitions, global and area detailed figures for nylons, PC, POM, PBT, PPE, alloys, PSU, PPS, PEEK, LCP, fluoropolymers and many others. 2. Engineering and high performance plastics have common characteristics: higher performance properties than commodity plastics, higher temperature performances, synergy of performances, mechanical, electrical, chemical, etc. 3. Faster growth than commodity plastics. 4. Competition between plastics, commodity and engineering plastics, through alloys and blends and enhancement of commodity polymers such as polypropylene or styrenics. 5. Some engineering plastics to achieve commodity volumes by 2015, like PC and nylon. 6. Main areas of development remain the US, Europe and Asia, China fast emerging. 7. Main applications in the car and electrical/electronic industries, also aircraft, aerospace, medical, and even some consumer goods. 8. Concentration of few world suppliers. 9. Growth driven by consumption in new industrial countries, by new applications, by some substitutions.