Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR), also known as Buna-N, is a synthetic rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene. NBR exhibit excellent physical and chemical properties. It has advantages such as resistance to oils, chemicals, abrasion and fatigue. NBR finds major applications in glove manufacturing and the automobile industry. Ability of NBR to withstand wide temperature ranges from -40°C to +120°C makes it suitable for extreme automobile applications. Powder rubber refers to a particle size of 1.0 mm with advantages such as easy storage and transportation. Powdered form of NBR with all NBR properties finds major applications in PVC modification, automobiles, friction materials, gaskets and adhesives, among others.

Currently, the NBR powder market stands at more than 70 kilo tons globally of which, unorganized market accounts for a significant share. Linear and cross-linked are the two major types available in the global NBR powder market. However, there are products with semi-cross linked characteristics. These have applications similar to those of cross-linked products. Cross-linked NBR powder is the major type, accounting for more than 80% of the global market in 2012.

Availability and supply of raw materials such as butadiene and acrylonitrile has been a crucial factor in the industry. Tight supply of raw materials led to a price increase during 2008 to 2010. This resulted in a shift towards other substitutes of NBR powder, thereby affecting the global demand for NBR powder.

Cross-linked NBR powder is majorly used in PVC modification applications. It is also used to modify resins such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and phenolic resins. They provide flexibility and impact resistance in thermoplastic formulations. Linear NBR powder is used in various applications such as gaskets, hoses and seals. Automobile is another major application market for NBR powder. NBR powder is used in interior moldings, weather strips, auto interior skins and friction materials. Friction materials is expected to be the fastest growing segment due to rising demand for disc pads, clutch facings, brake linings and railway brake blocks, among others. NBR powder in frictional material further raises shock and heat fading resistance, and decreases hardness. Buildings, footwear and consumer goods are other key applications of NBR powder.

Asia Pacific dominated the global NBR powder market and is expected to be fastest growing regional segment, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period from 2013 to 2019. On the other hand, North America is anticipated to witness slow growth due to the shift from NBR powder to other potential substitutes such as thermoplastics elastomers and thermoplastics olefins. Europe accounted for the second largest market for NBR powder in 2012. Growth in the automobile industry is the major driving factor for the NBR powder market in the region. Rest of the World (RoW) including Latin America, the Middle East and Africa accounted for about 20% of the global demand for NBR powder in 2012. Few players operate in the region. Brazil-based Nitriflex is a key producer of NBR powder.

Well-established companies such as Lanxess and OMNOVA Solutions have been dominating the global market for NBR powder. Key players in the market include Lanxess, OMNOVA Solutions (Eliokem), LG Chem, Nitriflex and Zeon Chemicals. In addition, several small NBR powder manufacturers are present in countries such as India and China. In the light of growing automobile industry, companies are now focusing on developing products for frictional materials. On other hand, the industry has also been experiencing a shift from NBR powder towards other substitutes for PVC modification applications due to the availability of better substitutes in the market.