Best growth is anticipated for glass wool fiber, with overall demand constrained by slow textile glass fiber advances as nanomaterials displace glass fibers in reinforced plastics.
Textile glass fiber prices will continue to be squeezed by the impact of lower priced imports from countries in Asia, particularly China. These and other trends are presented in Glass Fibers, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm. Gains in glass wool fiber (fiberglass insulation) demand will reflect rebounding demand in nonresidential building markets, particularly in the office and commercial segment. Efforts are also being made to improve energy efficiency in manufacturing and climate control functions, with increasing insulation use per structure. Further insulation advances will be threatened by declining single-family home construction. However, this will be somewhat offset by greater remodeling and renovation activity.
Reinforced plastics will present the best opportunities for textile glass fiber.
Textile glass fibers are low cost, versatile and corrosion resistant materials used in both reinforced and nonreinforced applications. Slow textile glass fiber growth will be attributable to maturing applications, intense competition and rapid inroads made by nanomaterials. Nanomaterial reinforcement advances into reinforced textile glass fiber markets are expected as supplies increase and prices become more competitive. Nanomaterial advantages as plastic reinforcements include their unique performance properties, clarity and significantly reduced loading factors.
The entire study available on the source link below.
US Glass Fibre Demand To Exceed 8 Billion Pounds In 2011
Glass fiber demand in the US is projected to expand 2.3 percent annually to 8.1 billion pounds in 2011, valued at $7.0 billion.