Growing use in automotive, aerospace, medical, filtration membranes drives global growth of sulfone polymers

09-Nov-16

The combination of features such as mechanically tough and rigid, transparent, resistance against hydrolysis and against acidic attacks and melt processing at temperatures of up to 400°C, coupled with ease of fabrication, has enabled sulfone polymers to be used in a wide and increasingly diversified range of applications. Major forces driving the demand for sulfone polymers across the globe include their growing usage in automotive, aerospace, medical and filtration membranes. Replacing metal to reduce weight, reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency in automotive and aerospace sector is the key driver for future demand for sulfone polymers. Volume consumption, worldwide, of Sulfone Polymers is forecast to be 51.1 thousand metric tons in 2016 and is projected to reach 68.9 thousand metric tons by 2022 at a CAGR of 5.1% between 2016 and 2022.
Medical & healthcare sector currently is the largest consumer for sulfone polymers, such as PSU and PPSU and further contributes to the growth of these polymers. However, the fastest growth is expected for sulfone polymers, specifically polyethersulfone (PESU), in filtration membranes.