WELLESLEY, Mass., Jan. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Led by demand from the construction sector, the need for heat insulating materials has increased tremendously in recent years, and the global market for geopolymer products could expand by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.4% annually through 2022, according to a report by BCC Research.
Dominated by growth in the cement and concrete sector, the global geopolymer market could grow from a 2017 value of $2.8 billion to a projected 2022 value of $12.8 billion, according to the report Geopolymers: Global Markets to 2022. The use of geopolymers can reduce CO2 emissions substantially, and they are also economical and durable.
Geopolymers are relatively new materials which are used in heat and fire-resistant coatings, adhesives, medical applications, engineering industries and high-temperature ceramics. They can also be employed as binders for types of cement, fire-resistant fire composites, and in toxic and radioactive waste encapsulation.
Companies mentioned in this report include Advanced Technical Resources Industries, Banah UK, Calstar Products, Dow Global Technologies, Emplicure, Geopolymer Solutions, Halliburton Energy Services, James Hardie, Kiran Global Chems, Lone Star Industries, Milliken Infrastructure Solutions, Orcem Americas and Rio Tinto Alcan, among others.
Research Highlights
- Among the unique properties of geopolymers are their resistance to acids and elevated temperatures, their strength and permeability, their ability to immobilize hazardous wastes and their volume stability.
- Use of all types of geopolymers is anticipated to increase substantially through 2022, including rock-based (38.5% CAGR), kaolin-based (36.8%), meta-kaolin-based (35.6%) and calcium-based (35.3%).
- Exceptionally fast-growing markets for geopolymer products through 2022 include cement (36.6%), concrete (38.1%) and resins and binders (32.2%).
“There has been spectacular technological progress in the development of geopolymer applications,” said BCC Research analyst and report author Srinivasa Rajaram. “Innovative materials designed with the help of geopolymerization are opening up new applications and procedures. These applications are in the automotive and aerospace industries; non-ferrous foundries and metallurgy; civil engineering; cement and concretes; ceramics and plastics industries; waste management; arts and decoration; retrofit of buildings, and more.”
Geopolymer Cement and Concretes: Although Future Is Bright, Limitations Exist
The market for geopolymer cement and concrete is expected to be robust through 2022, although some caution is warranted, noted Rajaram, due to the material’s limitations. For one, many of the key strengths of the cement concretes depend on the purity of the resource materials—meaning the design of concrete mix proportions is difficult. Further, depending on the purity of the alkalis used, the cost of the alkaline solution can be high, and industry experts note that specifications and guidelines for the products are relatively unavailable.
About BCC Research
BCC Research is a publisher of market research reports that provide organizations with intelligence to drive smart business decisions. By partnering with industry experts worldwide, BCC Research provides unbiased measurements and assessments of global markets covering major industrial and technology sectors, including emerging markets. For more information about BCC Research, please visit bccresearch.com. Follow BCC Research on Twitter at @BCCResearch.