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New developments in clear plastics have expanded usage in existing and new applications, creating competition
between polymers exhibiting optical clarity. Transparent plastics have become a significant market and encompass
many types of polymers. In addition to acrylics and polycarbonates, many styrene-based materials, along with
commodity and specialty polymers, are available in clear grades.
Clear rigid plastics used for packaging and non-packaging applications clearly offer an advantage of aesthetics
in addition to performance. No wonder, polymers such as PET, acrylics, PS, PC and PVC have a great future not
only in the developed economies but also in the growing regions.
The processes used by these packaging materials are almost all - ranging from injection moulding, film extrusion,
cast film and sheet. Sheet is used for thermoformed products.
Acrylics, PS and PC combined together account for about 80% of the clear plastic products in North America. The
story is the same all around the World. The major markets & applications for the clear plastic products are:
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Houseware |
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Consumer electronics |
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Appliances |
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Medical/public health sector |
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Optical lens |
The building/construction and electronics segments account for slightly over 50% of total volume. Electronics, optical lenses,
medical and automotive will show the highest growth rates. The electronic market alone is forecast to comprise about 40% of
the total transparent plastic volume increase from 2006 to 2011, which is being led by DVD and CD production. Aircraft,
automobile and building markets also use clarity to an added advantage and attraction to the user. The major developments are:
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Windows for automobiles from PC can provide benefits of shatter-proofness compared to glass |
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New Boeing aircrafts will incorporate glass windows that can become bright or dark as required by the passengers |
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Houses can benefit from clear glass panes to prevent damage to young children |
In terms of intra-plastic competition, optical clarity, impact resistance and UV stability are
considered to be the most important physical parameters for rigid transparent plastics. Comparative
pricing is also a factor in many instances. Opportunities in several application areas are in need of
reappraisal in regard to transparent or clear plastics especially in the electronics, medical and
automotive sectors. Of special interest within the electronics sector is use of transparent plastics
as substrates for CDs and DVDs.
As per a report by BCC Research, the North American rigid transparent plastics market will reach almost
3.6 billion pounds in 2011. Polycarbonates, acrylics, and polystyrenes will maintain their aggregate share
(about 80% of total volume) through the end of the decade.
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