Microspheres, also referred to as microparticles are small spherical particles, which have diameters ranging from one to thousand micrometers. Microspheres are powders that are biodegradable in nature and are manufactured from various synthetic and natural materials such as polymer microspheres, glass microspheres, and ceramic microspheres. The method involved in the preparation of microparticles includes spray drying and cooling, solvent extraction, and quasi emulsion solvent diffusion. Floating and hollow microspheres differ extensively in density and therefore, used for various applications. Hollow microspheres are usually used as additives to lower density of a material. Floating microspheres have numerous applications depending on its material and size.

Microspheres Materials Market Taxonomy

On the basis of product type, the global market is segmented into:

Floating Microsphere

Effervescent Type



Non-Effervescent Type

Radioactive Microsphere

Hollow Microsphere

Magnetic Microsphere

Muchoadhesive Microsphere

On the basis of technique, the global market is segmented into:

Single Emulsion Technique

Heat stabilization method



Chemical stabilization method



Ionic chelation method

Double Emulsion Technique

Polymerization Technique

Normal phase



Bulk





Suspension





Emulsion



Interfacial

Spray Drying Technique

Spray Congealing Technique

Solvent Extraction Technique

Phase Separation Co-acervation Technique

Solvent Evaporation Technique

On the basis of raw material, the global market is segmented into:

Glass Microspheres

Polymer Microspheres

Synthetic Polymers



Non-Biodegradable Polymers





Poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA)







Glycidyl methacrylate







Epoxy polymers





Biodegradable polymers





Lactides and Glycolides and their copolymers







Poly alkyl cyano acrylates







Polyanhydrides







Poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL)





Natural Polymers





Carbohydrates







Agarose









Carrageenan









Chitosan









Starch







Proteins







Albumin









Gelatin









Collagen







Chemically modified carbohydrates







Poly dextran









Poly starch







Ceramic Microspheres







Fly AHS (Cenospheres) Microspheres







Metallic Microspheres

On the basis of end-use industry, the global microspheres materials market is segmented into:

Medical Technology

Life Science & Biotechnology

Paints & Coatings

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Oil & Gas

Automotive

Aerospace

Construction

Others (marine, etc)

The medical and biotechnology applications of microsphere materials include drug delivery systems, embolization, skin treatments, and bulking agent. Lightweight materials and syntactic foams are extensively used in the aerospace sector, making aerospace the largest application segment in the market. Also, growth of the drilling activities, has resulted in an increased demand for microspheres, as it helps improve mud lubricity and control the essential torque of the drill machine. This makes microspheres essential to the oil & gas industry. The demand for the retro-reflective feature and lower specific gravity of microspheres, has resulted in its use of manufacturing paints that are used in the road signs. Microspheres are majorly used in the milling and grinding of various minerals and pigments in the cosmetics and personal care products industries. Growth of the cosmetics & personal care end-use industries, especially in the emerging economies of India and China, creates a highly lucrative environment for growth of the global microspheres market.

North America is the largest and fastest-growing market for microspheres in the world, owing to rampant growth of its end-use industries such as medical technology, automotive, oil & gas, and aerospace. Asia-Pacific is the second fastest-growing region due to burgeoning growth of life sciences & biotechnology, and paints & coatings end-use industries in the region.

Product innovation is one of the key strategies adopted by the leading players in the microspheres material market, with BASF and Trelleborg at the forefront of innovation. BASF has developed innovative microsphere-based admixture technology for freeze-thaw durability eliminating the need for air-entrained concrete. Trelleborg has also developed Eccofloat—hollow glass microspheres to meet deep-sea buoyancy requirements for subsea applications. Some of the major companies operating in the global microspheres materials market are Trelleborg, BASF, Phosphorex, Pylote, Potters Industries LLC, 3M Company, AkzoNobel, Dennert Poraver GmbH Luminex Corporation, Chase Corporation, Expancel, Sigmund Lindner GmbH, and Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

Key Developments