High-Performance Films: The U.S. Market

August 2020 | 176 pages | ID: H0CF9AC00E59EN
BCC Research

Abstracts

Report Scope:

High-performance films can be defined in any of several ways: by volume, price, performance, end-use markets, resin types, or a combination of two or more of these characteristics.

For this study, high-performance films are defined as thin-gauge, mostly extruded or solution-cast polymer sheets that generally meet at least one of the following criteria: pricing above commodity film levels, continuous-use temperature above commodity plastics, and end-uses requiring technical capability and thickness at or below 30 mils. These are films that are primarily selected for their performance characteristics, not their price. Emphasis is on those markets and products where opportunities are the greatest.

Therefore, the distinguishing characteristics of high-performance films are as follows -

• Relatively expensive.
• Thin gauge (compared to sheet).
• Possess special performance characteristics.
• Significant applications outside of packaging.

High-performance films generally are fabricated (or converted) in relatively small volumes (at least compared to commodity films). Much of their value is created after the film is extruded.

The focal point is on high-performance resins and their chemistries, including the following

• Polyesters, primarily PET. (Note: PET is used interchangeably with “polyester” throughout this report.)
• Polyolefin-based specialty film resins.
• Nylons (more properly and chemically called polyamides).
• Polycarbonates (PCs).
• Bioplastics, a newer group of plastics.
• Fluoropolymers.
• Acrylic films based on PMMA chemistry.
• Polyimides (PIs).
• Cyclic olefin copolymers (COCs).
• Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN).
• Liquid crystal polymers (LCPs).
• Polysulfones.
• Polyetherimides.

We also introduce some newer film resins whose markets at present are too small to measure with any precision. These include polyketones, benzocyclobutenes and polyacetals.

Basic polyolefins, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), are not included in our scope since they are true commodities used in commodity film applications like grocery and garbage bags. Also excluded are other commodity resins like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene.

Specialty polyolefin-based films are included, primarily and particularly when multilayer construction is involved. These specialty films are ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), ionomers, polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and polymethyl pentene (PMP).

Fluoropolymer films are an important focus of this report. They include the following -

• Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
• Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF).
• Fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP).
• Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE).
• Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF).
• Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA).
• Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE).
• Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE).

Although geographic scope of this report is the U.S. market, it also includes some international discussion, for example of foreign-owned firms that are active in these markets.

The market estimates are by resin volumes in millions of pounds, and these estimates are rounded to the nearest million pounds. The numbers are rounded to millions since market estimates, which integrate so many products and applications, many of which are similar and can overlap, are by nature just that—estimates—and thus not precise beyond millions of pounds, if that. Many applications markets for particular films are small, less than a million pounds, but precision here is not greater than that for larger numbers, and numbers are round up to 1 million those estimated volumes greater than a half-million. Also, compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) for table entries with small volumes may not agree exactly with the 2019 and 2025 volumes; this is again caused by rounding.

Report Includes:

• 21 data tables and 10 additional tables
• An overview of the U.S. market for high-performance films
• Analyses of market trends with data from 2019, estimates for 2020 and projections of CAGRs through 2025
• Identification of trends affecting high-performance polymer films and market analysis of the various applications
• Explanation of the major drivers and regional dynamics of the high-performance films industry and a look at the recent developments and market investments
• Highlights of current and future market potential and a detailed analysis of the current market trends, market size, and regulatory scenarios
• Market share analysis of the leading suppliers of the industry and detailed company profiles of major players in the market, including BASF Corp., Dow Chemical Co., Honeywell International Inc., Mitsubishi Polyester Film Inc., Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, and Toray Plastics (America) Inc.

Contents

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

Study Goals and Objectives
Reason for Doing This Study
Intended Audience
Scope of Report
Methodology and Information Sources
Market Breakdown
Analyst's Credentials
BCC Custom Research
Related BCC Research Reports

CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS

CHAPTER 3 MARKET OVERVIEW

Overview
Overall High-Performance Film Resin Market Estimate
Polyester Films
Background
Other and Specialty Polyesters
Market Estimate and Forecast
Commercial Factors
Technical Factors
PET Film Suppliers
PET Film Applications
Types of Polyester Films
PET Film Processing
Polyolefin-Based High-Performance Films
Market Estimate and Forecast
Polyamide (Nylon) Films
Market Estimate and Forecast
Types of Polyamide Films
Nylon Film Fabrication
Nylon Film Applications
Polycarbonate (PC) films
Polycarbonate Properties
Market Estimate and Forecast
Polycarbonate Film Fabrication
Polycarbonate Film Fabricators
Polycarbonate Film Applications
Bioplastic Films
Bioplastics Properties
Market Estimate and Forecast
Bioplastic Film Applications
Fluoropolymer Films
Fluoropolymer Properties
Fluoropolymer Film Fabrication
Market Estimate and Forecast
Acrylic Films
Suppliers, Trade Names and Applications
Market Estimate and Forecast
Acrylic Film Fabrication
Polyimide (PI) films
Polyimide Film Types and Properties
Market Estimate and Forecast
Polyimide Film Fabrication
Polyimide Film Applications
Colorless Polyimide Films
Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) Films
Market Estimate and Forecast
COC Film Applications
Polyetherimide (PEI) Films
Market Estimate and Forecast
PEI Film Properties
Polysulfone (PSU) Films
Commercial Factors
Market Estimate and Forecast
Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) Films
Liquid Crystal Polymer Properties
Market Estimate and Forecast
Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN) Films
Market Estimate and Forecast
PEN Film Applications
Other High-Performance Film Resins
Polyketone Films
Benzocyclobutene (BCB) Films
Polyacetal Films

CHAPTER 4 MARKET BREAKDOWN BY APPLICATION

Introduction
U.S. Market for High-Performance Film Applications
Packaging
Market Estimate and Forecast
Food Packaging
Medical Packaging
Electrical/Electronics (E/E)
Market Estimate and Forecast
Electrical Insulation
Capacitors
Printed Circuit Boards
Tape Automated Bonding (Tab)
Membrane Switches
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Automotive
Market Estimate and Forecast
Key Automotive Applications
Release Films
Market Estimate and Forecast
Key Release Films Applications
Photographic/Reprographic Films
Market Estimate and Forecast
Other Definable Markets
Market Estimate and Forecast
Aircraft and Aerospace
Industrial Membranes
Photovoltaics (PV)
Other Applications
Medical (Non-Packaging)
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)
Clothing

CHAPTER 5 PLASTIC FILM FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY

Introduction and Overview
Extrusion and Melt Film Fabrication
Extrusion
Melt Film Fabrication
Blown Films
Film Casting
Solvent Casting
PTFE Fabrication Techniques
Dispersion Casting
Paste Extrusion
Peeling
Film Drawing
Multilayer Lamination and Coxtrusion
Lamination
Coextrusion
Barrier Technology
Moisture
Oxygen and Other Gases
Light
Odors and Others
Barrier Films
Nanocomposite Barriers
Polymer and Film Orientation
Competitive Processes, Methods and Products

CHAPTER 6 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND COMPETITIVE FACTORS

Introduction and Overview
Integrated Film Fabricators
Vertical Integration
Horizontal Integration
Nonintegrated Film Fabricators
Captive Consumption
Industry Concentration
Key Players
End-User Film Selection Criteria
Performance
Cost
Replacement of Other Materials
New Applications or New Procedures
Clarity and Other Appearance Factors
Imported Products
Material Availability
Environmental and/or Social Criteria
Product Differentiation/Market Substitution
Better Properties
Different Grades
Competition from Other Performance Films
Competition from Commodity Films
New Film Structures
Substitution for and by Nonplastic Materials
Marketing
Distribution
Direct Sales
Pricing and Profitability

CHAPTER 7 COMPANY PROFILES

3M CO. (MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING CO.)
AGC CHEMICALS AMERICAS INC.
AJEDIUM FILMS
ALTUGLAS INTERNATIONAL
AMERICAN DURAFILM CO. INC.
ARKEMA INC.
BASF CORP.
BEMIS COMPANY INC.
BIAXIS PACKAGING SALES INC.
BERRY GLOBAL GROUP INC.
COORSTEK
COVESTRO LLC
DAIKIN AMERICA INC.
DEWAL INDUSTRIES INC.
DOW CHEMICAL CO.
DUPONT
DUPONT TEIJIN FILMS U.S. LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO.
EASTMAN KODAK CO.
ENSINGER/PENN FIBRE
EVONIK CORP.
FILMQUEST GROUP INC.
FILMTECH CORP.
THE GRIFF NETWORK
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
INNOVIA FILMS INC.
INVISTA INC.
KANEKA TEXAS CORP.
KLOCKNER PENTAPLAST OF AMERICA INC.
KNF CORP.
KURARAY AMERICA INC.
M&Q PLASTIC CORP./M&Q PLASTIC PRODUCTS INC.
MITSUBISHI POLYESTER FILM INC.
MITSUI CHEMICALS AMERICA INC.
MULTIFILM PACKAGING CORP.
NORDSON EXTRUSION DIES INDUSTRIES LLC
PARKINSON TECHNOLOGIES INC.
PIEDMONT PLASTICS INC.
POLYONICS INC.
RMS PACKAGING/AURORA SPECIAL EFFECT FILMS
ROWLAND TECHNOLOGIES INC.
SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS
SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS
SEKISUI SPECIALTY CHEMICALS AMERICA LLC
SKC INC.
SOARUS LLC
SOLIANT LLC/AKZO NOBEL
SOLUTIA PERFORMANCE FILMS
SPARTECH CORP./POLYONE DESIGNED STRUCTURES AND SOLUTIONS LLC
TRANSCONTINENTAL ADVANCED COATINGS
TEKNI-PLEX INC./TEKNI-FILMS
TOPAS ADVANCED POLYMERS INC.
TORAY PLASTICS (AMERICA) INC.
TREDEGAR FILM PRODUCTS CORP./TERPHANE
UBE AMERICA INC.
UNITIKA AMERICA CORP.
VICTREX USA INC.
WELCH FLUOROCARBON INC.
WESTLAKE PLASTICS
WIMAN CORP.
WINPAK LTD.
ZEON CHEMICALS LP

CHAPTER 8 APPENDIX: LIST OF ACRONYMS

List Of Tables

LIST OF TABLES

Summary Table: Overall U.S. Market Volumes of High-Performance Films, by Resin, Through 2025
Table 1: U.S. Market Volumes of High-Performance Films, by Resin, Through 2025
Table 2: Market Segments of High-Performance Films
Table 3: U.S. Market for Polyester Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 4: Domestic Polyester Film Producers
Table 5: Polyester (PET) Film Applications
Table 6: U.S. Market Volumes of Polyolefin-Based High-Performance Films, by Resin, Through 2025
Table 7: U.S. Market Volumes of Polyolefin-Based High-Performance Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 8: U.S. Market Volumes of Polyamide (Nylon) Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 9: U.S. Market Volumes of Polycarbonate Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 10: U.S. Market Volumes of High-Performance Bioplastic Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 11: Fluoropolymer Names and Acronyms
Table 12: U.S. Market Volumes of Fluoropolymer Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 13: U.S Market Volumes of Fluoropolymer Films, by Resin, Through 2025
Table 14: U.S. Market Volume for Acrylic Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 15: U.S. Market Volumes of Polyimide Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 16: U.S. Market Volumes of Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 17: U.S. Market Volumes of Polysulfone Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 18: U.S. Market Volumes of Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN) Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 19: U.S. Market Volumes of High-Performance Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 20: U.S Market Volumes of High-Performance Packaging Films, by Resin, Through 2025
Table 21: Flexible Food Packaging: Fabrication Processes, Applications and Structures
Table 22: Rigid Food Packaging: Fabrication Processes, Applications and Structures
Table 23: U.S Market Volumes of Electrical/Electronic High-Performance Films, by Resin, Through 2025
Table 24: U.S Market Volumes of Automotive High-Performance Films, by Resin, Through 2025
Table 25: U.S Market Volumes of Release Films, by Resin, Through 2025
Table 26: U.S. Market for Other Definable High-Performance Films, by Application, Through 2025
Table 27: Process Technology Milestones for High-Performance Films
Table 28: Key Aspects of High-Performance Film Fabrication
Table 29: Top 20 U.S. High-Performance Film Producers
Table 30: List of Acronyms

List Of Figures

LIST OF FIGURES

Summary Figure: Overall U.S. Market Volumes of High-Performance Films, by Resin, 2019-2025