Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market size is forecast to reach $1025.83 million by 2025, after growing at a CAGR of 5.76% during 2020-2025. Polyisobutylene is a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene with an average Mw of 40,000–120,000 g/mol, which is used extensively in the manufacture of inner tubes of tires, agricultural chemicals, adhesives, sealants, caulks, pulp & paper and chewing gum. Polyisobutylene possesses thermal stability, good flexibility, and impermeability to gases. It also provides high resistance to acids, alkalis, and salts. Increasing the use of Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene due to its flexibility, elongation, cohesive force, and efficiency of gas barriers in various applications will further lead the growth of Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene industry in the forecast era.
Key Takeaways
- Asia Pacific dominates the medium molecular weight polyisobutylene market due to its increasing use of adhesives and sealants as protective films or acoustic barriers in the automotive industry.
- Rising demand in the building industry for medium molecular weight polyisobutylene in insulating glass sealants and roofing membranes will propel the market growth for medium molecular weight polyisobutylene during the forecast period.
- Strict regulations on the manufacture and use of medium molecular polyisobutylene due to potential hazards for aquatic creatures can in the immediate future impede market development.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly and severely affected the globally integrated automotive industry. Symptoms include disruption of shipments of Chinese products, large-scale production interruptions throughout Europe, and the closure of assembly plants in the US. This puts heavy pressure on an industry that is already facing a slowdown in global demand and is expected to increase merger & acquisition activity.
By Type - Segment Analysis
Food Grade Polyisobutylene is widely used in Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market. Food-grade polyisobutylene is a colorless, odorless, clear, semi-solid, or sticky liquid used in chewing gum, food-grade adhesive agent; foodstuffs-packaging material and food-grade thermal melt glue. To improve the consistency of the chewing gum, polyisobutylene is mixed with paraffin and resin, making the chewing gum stronger and more durable with good hydrophobicity and excellent membrane performance. Also, Polyisobutylene can be combined with various adhesive agents, taking adhesion, and alteration results. Since it has hydrophobicity, it can absorb low toxic substances and maintain high temperatures when combined with hydrophilic substances and modify hardness and strength of antibacterial. Due to all these properties, the demand of the market is anticipated to rise in the forecast period.
By Application Type - Segment Analysis
Lubricant held the largest share in Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market in 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.65% during the forecast period 2020-2025. Polyisobutylene owing to its interesting properties is widely used as an additive in lubricating oils and motor fuels. Adding polyisobutylene in small quantities to the lubricating oils used in the machining process results in a substantial reduction in oil mist production and thus decreases the inhalation of oil mist by the user. It is also used as part of the Elastol commercial product, to clean up waterborne oil spills. Added to crude oil, this increases the viscoelasticity of the oil as it is extracted, allowing the oil to resist breakup as it is vacuumed from the water surface. Polyisobutylene is a fuel additive and has detergent properties. It avoids fouling of fuel injectors when applied to diesel fuel, leading to reduced hydrocarbon and particulate emissions. To make a detergent package that is applied to gasoline and diesel fuel to prevent deposit buildup and engine shake, it is blended with other detergents and additives. Also, in certain formulations, polyisobutylene is even used as a thickening agent.
By End Use- Segment Analysis
The automotive industry held the largest share in the Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market in 2019. The use of adhesives in the automotive industry has increasingly increased in recent decades. Adhesives offer a good weight reduction potential the modern tendency is to substitute threaded fasteners and welds with adhesives. By lowering the vehicle's weight by 100 kg, CO2 emissions can be reduced by 3–5 percent depending on the size of the vehicle and the type of power train. Structural adhesives are very much a favorite among professionals in the automotive industry, as they allow different material types to be easily combined. Permabond has a wide variety of adhesive products suitable for under bonnet applications such as formed-in-place gaskets, core plug sealing adhesive, bonding of automotive hose, sealing of heat exchangers, and bonding of filter end caps. Some adhesives such as potting and sealing of electrical parts, sensors, switches, and relays, bonding electric motors, and a whole host of other applications are often used in electronic systems within the vehicle. Other benefits that can be achieved with the use of adhesives are the already stated lack of corrosion compared to metal fasteners, reduction of noise and vibration, as well as the possibility of functionalization which is expected to increase the medium molecular weight polyisobutylene market during the forecast period.
Geography- Segment Analysis
Asia Pacific held the largest share with 36% in Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market in 2019. Increasing the use of lubricating oil and sealants for roofing is attributing the growth in various industries such as the automotive sector. Polymer-based adhesives and hot melt adhesives compensate medium molecular weight polyisobutylene and are widely used as panel lamination in the automotive industry. China and India are the two leading automotive countries in the APAC region. According to the International Trade Administration, China is the largest vehicle market in the world, with the Chinese government expecting car production to reach 30 million units by 2020, and 35 million by 2025. Also, according to India Brand Equity Foundation in 2018, India became the fourth largest auto market with sales increasing 8.3% year-on-year to 3.99 million units. It was also the seventh-largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in 2018.
Drivers –Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market
- Increasing the use of medium molecular weight polyisobutylene in adhesives and sealants
Medium-molecular-weight of polyisobutylene’s (PIBs) is great for adhering to the surface. Medium molecular weight polyisobutylene is used as a regulator of viscosity, tack improver in adhesive formulations, and main binder in compounds for caulking and sealing. It is extensively used as a protective barrier in the adhesive industry and is used for instance where sunlight exposure is a possible danger to sealants. Rising demand for sealants and adhesives coupled with an increasing need for medium molecular weight polyisobutylene in lubricating oils is anticipated to raise the medium molecular weight polyisobutylene market shortly.
- Increasing demand of medium molecular weight polyisobutylene for roof repair
Medium molecular weight polyisobutylene is used to repair the rubber roof and to maintain the roof membranes, especially around the edges. It is necessary to have the roof membrane repaired, as it can be considerably loosened by several fixtures such as air conditioner vents, plumbing, and other pipes. Polyisobutylene is the only rubber that is gas impermeable, and the only rubber that can hold air for long periods. Also, polyisobutylene is available in either black or white and has excellent resistance to weathering, ultraviolet light, sparks, radiant heat, and gases from industrial plants. It also comes with a two-inch self-sealing edge that offers excellent seam strength owing to which it is preferred for roof repairs.
Challenges –Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market
- Effects of Polyisobutylene
Fuel additives based on polyisobutylene is not readily biodegradable and may cause adverse long-term effects in the aquatic environment. The fuel additive polyisobutylene is toxic to aquatic organisms. Leakage or spillage of polyisobutylene product into drains or discharge into the area should be prevented to save the aquatic life. If a product containing Polyisobutylene based fuel additives spills, stop the source of the release if you can do it without risk. Therefore, the low volatility and low water solubility of polyisobutylene-based fuel additives restrict the potential for human exposure and, thus, the risk to people at work and customers in the forecast period would pose obstacles for the medium molecular weight polyisobutylene industry.
Market Landscape
Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market. In 2019, the market of Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market has been consolidated by the top five players accounting for xx% of the share. Major players in the Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene Market are BASF SE, Zhejiang Shunda New Material Co., Ltd, TPC Group, Efremov Kautschuk GmbH, Shandong Hongrui Petrochemical Co., Ltd., JX Holdings, Inc., Mayzo, Ineos Oligomers, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Infineum International Limited among others.
