Smart Windows Materials Markets: 2014 - 2021
In the past five years or so, smart (i.e. self-dimming) windows have taken off in both residential and commercial building markets. They are also increasingly used in automobiles and trucks. There are several different smart windows technologies, but all of them are materials plays in one way or another. NanoMarkets believes that, as a result, there are important opportunities for materials firms that are emerging from the smart windows “revolution.”
The objective of this report is to identify and quantify these opportunities. The report contains a granular eight-year forecast in both volume and value terms as well as an assessment of the strategies being deployed in this market by notable firms.
In this report NanoMarkets discusses the opportunities for materials in smart windows and mirrors using electrochromic, photochromic, thermochromic, PDLC, SPD and microblinds. The forecasts and analysis cover not only the active smart materials used in these technologies, but also the substrate materials; both plastic and glass. We also examine changing manufacturing patterns within the smart windows sector.
In addition, this report analyzes a number of different business models being used in the smart windows sector and shows how materials play into the total smart windows value chain. We also discuss the role of technology licensing, as well as direct supply of smart coatings and other materials to glass and windows firms.
NanoMarkets has been covering the smart glass business for more than five years and has therefore acquired a deep understanding of the dynamics of the smart windows sector and of materials selection within that sector. We believe that this report will be of vital interest to specialty chemical firms, as well as both display and build glassmakers, along with windows firms.
The objective of this report is to identify and quantify these opportunities. The report contains a granular eight-year forecast in both volume and value terms as well as an assessment of the strategies being deployed in this market by notable firms.
In this report NanoMarkets discusses the opportunities for materials in smart windows and mirrors using electrochromic, photochromic, thermochromic, PDLC, SPD and microblinds. The forecasts and analysis cover not only the active smart materials used in these technologies, but also the substrate materials; both plastic and glass. We also examine changing manufacturing patterns within the smart windows sector.
In addition, this report analyzes a number of different business models being used in the smart windows sector and shows how materials play into the total smart windows value chain. We also discuss the role of technology licensing, as well as direct supply of smart coatings and other materials to glass and windows firms.
NanoMarkets has been covering the smart glass business for more than five years and has therefore acquired a deep understanding of the dynamics of the smart windows sector and of materials selection within that sector. We believe that this report will be of vital interest to specialty chemical firms, as well as both display and build glassmakers, along with windows firms.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
E.1 Comparison of Smart Windows Materials and Technologies
E.1.1 End-User Choice Pattern in the Smart Windows
E.2 Materials Opportunities in the Electrochromic Windows Space
E.3 Materials Opportunities in Photochromic Windows
E.4 Materials Opportunities in SPD Windows
E.5 Materials Opportunities in Thermochromic Windows
E.6 Materials Opportunities in PDLC Windows
E.7 Materials Opportunities in Micro-Blinds
E.8 Eight Firms to Watch in the Smart Windows Materials Space
E.8.1 Technology Providers: Critical Specifiers
E.8.2 Glass Companies: Multiple Roles
E.8.3 Specialty Chemical Companies: Waiting in the Wings
E.8.4 Eight Firms to Watch in the Smart Windows Materials
E.9 Summary of Eight-Year Forecasts for Smart Windows Materials
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to This Report
1.1.1 Electrochromics Rises
1.1.2 And the Others: Thermochromic and Photochromic Materials, SPD and PDLC
1.2 Objective and Scope of This Report
1.3 Methodology of this Report
1.3.1 Data Collection
1.3.2 Forecasting Methodology
1.4 Plan of this Report
CHAPTER TWO: ELECTROCHROMIC SMART WINDOWS
2.1 Evolution and Performance of Electrochromic Smart Windows
2.2 Advantages of Electrochromic Glass and Film
2.2.1 Switching Speeds and How They Influence Materials Choice
2.3 Manufacturing Developments
2.4 Electrochromic Materials for Smart Windows
2.4.1 Transition Metal Oxides (TMOs)
2.4.2 Polymers
2.4.3 Reflective Hydride
2.4.4 Nanocrystals
2.4.5 Transparent Conductors
2.4.6 Glass versus Film Options
2.5 Products and Suppliers
2.5.1 Chromogenics
2.5.2 Gentex
2.5.3 Sage
2.5.4 US e-Chromic
2.5.5 View
2.6 Eight-Year Forecasts of Electrochromic Materials in Smart Windows
2.5 Key Points in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER THREE: PHOTOCHROMIC AND HYBRID PHOTOCHROMIC/ ELECTROCHROMIC SMART WINDOWS
3.1 Smart Photochromic Windows
3.1.1 Ability of Photochromic Materials to Provide a Platform for Smart Windows
3.2 Notable R&D in Photochromic Smart Windows
3.2.1 Photochromic and Photoelectrochromic R&D at Fraunhofer ISE (Germany)
3.3 SWITCH Materials (Canada)
3.3.1 Funding
3.3.2 Test Installations
3.4 Photochromic Films for the Automotive Aftermarket and Building Retrofit
3.5 Eight-Year Forecasts of Photochromic Materials in Smart Windows
3.5.1 Pure Photochromic Films
3.5.2 Photochromic/Electrochromic Hybrids
3.6 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER FOUR: THERMOCHROMIC MATERIALS FOR SMART WINDOWS
4.1 Characteristics of Current Thermochromic Technology
4.2 Main Materials Trends for Thermochromic Smart Windows
4.2.1 Suntek and Cloud Gel
4.2.2 Pleotint’s Materials Platform
4.2.3 Ravenbrick Materials Platform
4.2.4 New Research Directions: Nanotechnology
4.3 Eight-Year Forecasts of Thermochromic Materials in Smart Windows
4.4 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER FIVE: SUSPENDED PARTICLE DEVICES (SPD)
5.1 SPD Technology and Likely Future Advancements
5.1.1 Assessment of SPD Technology Performance
5.1.2 R&D Directions for SPD Technology Performance
5.2 Role of Research Frontiers
5.2.1 Manufacturing by Hitachi and SPD Products Offered
5.3 Market Development for SPD
5.4 Eight-Year Forecasts of SPD Materials in Smart Windows
5.4.1 Positive Factors Influencing the SPD Market
5.4.2 Negative Factors Influencing the SPD Market
5.5 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER SIX: PDLC
6.1 Trends in PDLC Materials Technology
6.1.1 Technology, Variations and Future Improvements
6.1.2 Privacy Glass and Beyond: PDLC’s Achilles Heel
6.1.3 Future Evolution of PDLC Technology
6.1.4 Scienstry and NPD-LCD
6.2 PDLC Supply Structure
6.2.1 PDLC at Toray
6.2.2 Other Suppliers of PDLC Technology
6.3 Eight-Year Forecasts of PDLC Materials in Smart Windows
6.4 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER SEVEN: SOME THOUGHTS ON MICRO-BLINDS
7.1 Micro-Blinds in the Context of Smart Windows Research
7.2 The Micro-Blind Concept
7.3 Materials and Manufacturing for Micro-blinds
7.4 Performance Claims and Possible Applications
7.5 The Commercial Future of Micro-Blinds
7.6 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER EIGHT: SUMMARY OF EIGHT-YEAR FORECASTS OF SMART WINDOWS MATERIALS
8.1 Background to Forecasts
8.2 Summary of Eight-Year Market Forecast by Type of Smart Windows Technology
8.3 Eight-Year Forecast by Substrate Technology
8.4 Eight-year Forecast of Smart Materials Used by Coating/Printing Technology
8.5 Eight-Year Forecast of Transparent Conductors Used in Smart Windows
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT
E.1 Comparison of Smart Windows Materials and Technologies
E.1.1 End-User Choice Pattern in the Smart Windows
E.2 Materials Opportunities in the Electrochromic Windows Space
E.3 Materials Opportunities in Photochromic Windows
E.4 Materials Opportunities in SPD Windows
E.5 Materials Opportunities in Thermochromic Windows
E.6 Materials Opportunities in PDLC Windows
E.7 Materials Opportunities in Micro-Blinds
E.8 Eight Firms to Watch in the Smart Windows Materials Space
E.8.1 Technology Providers: Critical Specifiers
E.8.2 Glass Companies: Multiple Roles
E.8.3 Specialty Chemical Companies: Waiting in the Wings
E.8.4 Eight Firms to Watch in the Smart Windows Materials
E.9 Summary of Eight-Year Forecasts for Smart Windows Materials
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to This Report
1.1.1 Electrochromics Rises
1.1.2 And the Others: Thermochromic and Photochromic Materials, SPD and PDLC
1.2 Objective and Scope of This Report
1.3 Methodology of this Report
1.3.1 Data Collection
1.3.2 Forecasting Methodology
1.4 Plan of this Report
CHAPTER TWO: ELECTROCHROMIC SMART WINDOWS
2.1 Evolution and Performance of Electrochromic Smart Windows
2.2 Advantages of Electrochromic Glass and Film
2.2.1 Switching Speeds and How They Influence Materials Choice
2.3 Manufacturing Developments
2.4 Electrochromic Materials for Smart Windows
2.4.1 Transition Metal Oxides (TMOs)
2.4.2 Polymers
2.4.3 Reflective Hydride
2.4.4 Nanocrystals
2.4.5 Transparent Conductors
2.4.6 Glass versus Film Options
2.5 Products and Suppliers
2.5.1 Chromogenics
2.5.2 Gentex
2.5.3 Sage
2.5.4 US e-Chromic
2.5.5 View
2.6 Eight-Year Forecasts of Electrochromic Materials in Smart Windows
2.5 Key Points in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER THREE: PHOTOCHROMIC AND HYBRID PHOTOCHROMIC/ ELECTROCHROMIC SMART WINDOWS
3.1 Smart Photochromic Windows
3.1.1 Ability of Photochromic Materials to Provide a Platform for Smart Windows
3.2 Notable R&D in Photochromic Smart Windows
3.2.1 Photochromic and Photoelectrochromic R&D at Fraunhofer ISE (Germany)
3.3 SWITCH Materials (Canada)
3.3.1 Funding
3.3.2 Test Installations
3.4 Photochromic Films for the Automotive Aftermarket and Building Retrofit
3.5 Eight-Year Forecasts of Photochromic Materials in Smart Windows
3.5.1 Pure Photochromic Films
3.5.2 Photochromic/Electrochromic Hybrids
3.6 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER FOUR: THERMOCHROMIC MATERIALS FOR SMART WINDOWS
4.1 Characteristics of Current Thermochromic Technology
4.2 Main Materials Trends for Thermochromic Smart Windows
4.2.1 Suntek and Cloud Gel
4.2.2 Pleotint’s Materials Platform
4.2.3 Ravenbrick Materials Platform
4.2.4 New Research Directions: Nanotechnology
4.3 Eight-Year Forecasts of Thermochromic Materials in Smart Windows
4.4 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER FIVE: SUSPENDED PARTICLE DEVICES (SPD)
5.1 SPD Technology and Likely Future Advancements
5.1.1 Assessment of SPD Technology Performance
5.1.2 R&D Directions for SPD Technology Performance
5.2 Role of Research Frontiers
5.2.1 Manufacturing by Hitachi and SPD Products Offered
5.3 Market Development for SPD
5.4 Eight-Year Forecasts of SPD Materials in Smart Windows
5.4.1 Positive Factors Influencing the SPD Market
5.4.2 Negative Factors Influencing the SPD Market
5.5 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER SIX: PDLC
6.1 Trends in PDLC Materials Technology
6.1.1 Technology, Variations and Future Improvements
6.1.2 Privacy Glass and Beyond: PDLC’s Achilles Heel
6.1.3 Future Evolution of PDLC Technology
6.1.4 Scienstry and NPD-LCD
6.2 PDLC Supply Structure
6.2.1 PDLC at Toray
6.2.2 Other Suppliers of PDLC Technology
6.3 Eight-Year Forecasts of PDLC Materials in Smart Windows
6.4 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER SEVEN: SOME THOUGHTS ON MICRO-BLINDS
7.1 Micro-Blinds in the Context of Smart Windows Research
7.2 The Micro-Blind Concept
7.3 Materials and Manufacturing for Micro-blinds
7.4 Performance Claims and Possible Applications
7.5 The Commercial Future of Micro-Blinds
7.6 Key Points Made in this CHAPTER
CHAPTER EIGHT: SUMMARY OF EIGHT-YEAR FORECASTS OF SMART WINDOWS MATERIALS
8.1 Background to Forecasts
8.2 Summary of Eight-Year Market Forecast by Type of Smart Windows Technology
8.3 Eight-Year Forecast by Substrate Technology
8.4 Eight-year Forecast of Smart Materials Used by Coating/Printing Technology
8.5 Eight-Year Forecast of Transparent Conductors Used in Smart Windows
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LIST OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit E-1: Comparison of Smart Windows Materials and Technologies
Exhibit E-2: Customer Choice Possibilities in the Smart Windows Materials Markets
Exhibit E-3: Firms to Watch in the Smart Windows Market
Exhibit E-4: Market for Smart Windows Materials
Exhibit 2-1: Materials Platform Evolution in the Electrochromic Windows Market
Exhibit 2-2: Commercial Electrochromic Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 2-3: Eight-Year Forecast of Electrochromic Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 3-1: Eight-Year Forecast of Photochromic Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 4-1: Eight-Year Forecast of Thermochromic Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 5-1: SPD Specifications
Exhibit 5-2: Potential for Improvement in the SPD Materials Platform
Exhibit 5-3: Selected SPD Licensees
Exhibit 6-1: Eight-Year Forecast of PDLC Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 8-1: Eight-Year Forecast of Active Smart Windows Materials by Type ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-2: Eight-Year Forecast of Passive Smart Windows Materials by Type ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-3: Eight-Year Forecast of Passive Smart Windows Materials by Active/Passive Technology ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-4: Eight-Year Forecast of Smart Windows Primary Substrate Materials ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-5: Eight-Year Forecast of Passive Smart Windows Materials by Coating/Printing Technology Used ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-6: Eight-Year Forecast of Active Smart Windows Materials by Type of Electrode
Exhibit E-1: Comparison of Smart Windows Materials and Technologies
Exhibit E-2: Customer Choice Possibilities in the Smart Windows Materials Markets
Exhibit E-3: Firms to Watch in the Smart Windows Market
Exhibit E-4: Market for Smart Windows Materials
Exhibit 2-1: Materials Platform Evolution in the Electrochromic Windows Market
Exhibit 2-2: Commercial Electrochromic Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 2-3: Eight-Year Forecast of Electrochromic Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 3-1: Eight-Year Forecast of Photochromic Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 4-1: Eight-Year Forecast of Thermochromic Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 5-1: SPD Specifications
Exhibit 5-2: Potential for Improvement in the SPD Materials Platform
Exhibit 5-3: Selected SPD Licensees
Exhibit 6-1: Eight-Year Forecast of PDLC Materials for Smart Windows
Exhibit 8-1: Eight-Year Forecast of Active Smart Windows Materials by Type ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-2: Eight-Year Forecast of Passive Smart Windows Materials by Type ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-3: Eight-Year Forecast of Passive Smart Windows Materials by Active/Passive Technology ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-4: Eight-Year Forecast of Smart Windows Primary Substrate Materials ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-5: Eight-Year Forecast of Passive Smart Windows Materials by Coating/Printing Technology Used ($ Millions)
Exhibit 8-6: Eight-Year Forecast of Active Smart Windows Materials by Type of Electrode
