Report Highlights

The U.S. consumed more than $3.1 billion worth of advanced and nanoscale ceramic powders in 2010. Consumption is projected to increase to nearly $3.4 billion in 2011 and $5.4 billion in 2016, a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9% between 2011 and 2016.

SCOPE OF REPORTS

For each ceramic powder type, the report provides an analysis of material types in that category, processing technologies, properties, applications, suppliers, prices, and U.S. markets.

A technology review has been conducted on the current and emerging ceramic powder production technologies, such as carbothermal reduction, vapor–phase reaction, plasma processes, sol–gel techniques, and chemical techniques (including precipitation, hydrothermal process, emulsion process, laser synthesis, and self–propagating high–temperature synthesis [SHS]). Nanosized powders have been treated in a separate chapter since many nanosized powder synthesis technologies are common to different ceramic powders.

The qualitative and quantitative judgments embodied in this report are a valuable contribution to the current knowledge of advanced and nanosized ceramic powders, their processing techniques, applications, and markets. They should be useful to companies that are facing decisions about their strategies for expansion or entering new areas of business.

METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES

The findings of this report are based on information derived from interviews with many producers and potential producers of advanced ceramic powders and nanosized ceramic powders, industry experts, and those conducting research and development. In addition, many end users were contacted to evaluate the current and future demand for these materials. Secondary data were obtained from trade publications, technical journals, government statistics, and BCC databases.

With 2010 as a baseline, projections for each market segment were developed for 2011 through 2016. The projections are based on a combination of a consensus among the primary contacts combined with BCC’s understanding of the key market drivers and their impact from a historical and analytical perspective.

Unless otherwise noted, all dollar projections presented in this report are in 2010 constant dollars.

ANALYST CREDENTIALS

This report is an update of an earlier report prepared by Dr. Thomas Abraham. Dr. Abraham was formerly Vice President, and Director of the Advanced Materials Group of BCC. Dr. Abraham has extensive experience in the field of advanced materials, including advanced ceramics, synthetic diamonds and diamond films, magnetic materials, high performance coatings, and superconductors.

The analyst responsible for updating the report is Andrew McWilliams, a partner in the Boston–based international technology and marketing consulting firm, 43rd Parallel LLC. Mr. McWilliams is the author of numerous other BCC studies, including those in ceramic–related fields such as NAN031D Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment; AVM015E High–performance Ceramic Coatings: Markets and Technologies; AVM025G Diamond, Diamond–like and CBN Films and Coating Products; AVM066B: Superconductors: Technologies and Global Markets; NAN021D Nanocomposites, Nanoparticles, Nanoclays, and Nanotubes; and NAN040A Nanomaterials Markets by Type.