Market Research Report on Plastics Compounding Industry [2015]

1. Plastics Compounding Market Industry [2015]

2. 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.

3. -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. -Information on major fillers/reinforcements. -Developments in carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes, and advances in natural fibers.

4. 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).

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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 biocompounds—plastics that are made from plants instead of hydrocarbons. It excludes thermosetting resins, since they have different chemistries and are usually processed differently.

8. 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. -Developments in carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes for reinforcement of thermoplastics. -Advances in natural fiber reinforcements.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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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