Fluorosurfactants Market

Market Overview

The global fluorosurfactants market size was valued at USD 569.91 million in 2022. It is expected to reach USD 972.81 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.12% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Factors such as increasing area of application in end-user industries and use of fluorosurfactants as hydrocarbon substitutes, significantly drives the fluorosurfactants market demand by 2031.

Fluorosurfactants are synthetic organo-fluorine chemical compounds with multiple fluorine atoms. They are also referred to as fluorinated surfactants, perfluorinated alkylated substances, or PFASs. They may be fluorocarbon-based or polyfluorinated (perfluorinated). These surfactants are fluorinated surface-active agents that are very effective and efficient and are based on short perfluorinated chains. A wide range of water and solvent-borne systems, including detergents, paints, varnishes, inks, waxes, floor polishes, adhesives, batteries, and a variety of specialty applications, can benefit from their fast spreading, wetting, and leveling capabilities.

Market Dynamics

Fluorosurfactants Market Drivers:

Increasing Area of Application in End-User Industries

Due to the fluorine atom's slightly larger atomic radius than that hydrogen over the past few years, fluorosurfactants have become one of the top choices among buyers and end-user industries. This, along with the fluorine atom's high electronegativity, allows for forming a strong carbon-fluorine bond, forming a perfluoroalkyl group with a weak intermolecular force and little contact with other molecules. As a result, the system with a fluorosurfactant added can offer excellent wettability due to its low surface tension.

Fluorosurfactants are increasingly used in various industries, including consumer goods, automotive, electronics, building, and architecture. The expansion of the automotive sector has significantly impacted the market for fluorosurfactants. The fluorosurfactant market is expanding quickly in China and other developing nations in the Asia-Pacific region. Due to the expansion of the automotive industry in the area, most of these nations are concentrating on implementing environmentally friendly solutions.

Use of Fluorosurfactants as Hydrocarbon Substitutes

Fluorosurfactants have a perfluoroalkyl group, which reduces micelle concentration and surface tension. They have a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. Fluorine gives fluorocarbons outstanding physicochemical properties and is less polarizable than hydrogen despite being larger and more electronegative. The result is thicker fluorocarbon chains. Fluorosurfactants are high in vapor pressure, compressibility, gas solubility, surface activity in aqueous solutions, and critical micelle concentration. Fluorine's properties give fluorosurfactants higher surface activity than hydrocarbons. Attractive forces between molecules make a liquid cohesive, but fluorine's high electronegativity polarizes C–F bonds.

Zero-dipole carbon chains are nonpolar. Nonpolar liquids only exhibit induced-dipole dispersion. Polarizability controls how strongly atoms interact. Fluorine is less polarizable than hydrogen, so fluorine atoms disperse less. In addition, perfluoroalkane liquids should have weaker intermolecular forces than hydrocarbons. Perfluoroalkane liquids have lower surface tensions than similar hydrocarbons due to their higher perfluoroalkyl content. Fluorocarbon-based surfactants solubilize membrane proteins, act as artificial oxygen carriers, lower surface tension in waxes, adhesives, paints, and polishes, and improve fluoropolymer emulsion polymerization control. Fluorocarbon-based surfactants perform better in these applications than other types. As a result, the global fluorosurfactants market is expected to grow during the forecast period.

Fluorosurfactants Market Restraints:

High Cost and Toxicity Compared to Alternatives

Fluorosurfactant wetting and spreading determine the application. Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) extinguish liquid fuel and solvent fires. Spreading an aqueous film over liquid hydrocarbons prevents evaporation and helps prevent oxygen from reaching the fire. Foam-forming liquids must spread well for this application. Foaming liquid contains hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon surfactants for quick spreading. Fluorocarbon surfactants boost the aqueous solution's spreading coefficient on hydrocarbon liquid by decreasing the water/air surface tension. In addition, hydrocarbon surfactants reduce oil/water interfacial tension. AFFFs are among the most widely used firefighting foams for fuel and oil fires, according to the EPA. PFOS, a key component of AFFFs, is toxic to aquatic life and builds up in human and animal blood. Fluorosurfactant demand may decline due to substitutes and price. The high cost and toxicity of fluorosurfactants are expected to restrain the fluorosurfactants market growth during the forecast period.

Fluorosurfactants Market Opportunities:

Rising Demand for High-Performance Paints and Coatings

High-quality, dependable, and high-performance paints and coatings are now more widely used due to the growing demand for cutting-edge products. The eco profile of the materials used in paints and coatings is becoming increasingly important to end users. Due to their wettability in applications for paints and coatings, fluorosurfactants are becoming increasingly popular. In paints and coatings, fluorosurfactants guarantee the superior spreading of liquid over the surface liquids or solids. Due to their high chemical and thermal stability, fluorosurfactants are increasingly in demand for interior and exterior coatings.

Additionally, the mature paints and coatings market worldwide is expected to grow strongly in the upcoming years. The high expenditure on construction activities worldwide, particularly residential construction, can be attributed to this growth. One of the significant markets for fluorosurfactants is the paint and coatings sector for buildings. The major economies of Asia-Pacific, including China, India, Japan, Europe, and the Americas, are expected to experience significant growth in their respective industries over the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

By region, the global fluorosurfactants market share is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific is the most significant shareholder in the global fluorosurfactants market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.47% during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to experience the fastest growth rate in the fluorosurfactant market over the forecast period due to rising urbanization and industrialization. China and India are the countries where paints and coatings are most in demand. Another factor anticipated to support Asia Pacific's growth is the shift toward emerging markets due to strict volatile organic compound (VOC) emission regulations in developed countries. Additionally, the relocation of manufacturing facilities has led to a sharp rise in product demand in the Asia-Pacific region. As a result of their flexible policies and affordable production facilities, developing economies like those in the Asia-Pacific region are predicted to attract many product manufacturers.

In North America, the demand for fluorosurfactants is anticipated to rise in response to the rising demand for oilfield surfactants. The nation has abundant oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico and shale formations. Fracking, horizontal drilling, and multi-well pad drilling are methods of extracting oil from reservoirs. These methods heavily rely on oilfield specialty chemicals such as lubricants, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and surfactants. In addition, the United States produced about 745 megatonnes of crude oil in 2019, making it the largest crude oil producer in the world, according to statistics from the Global Energy yearbook. In the coming ten years, the United States will produce a disproportionate amount of oil, driven by the shale boom, which will significantly expand the fluorosurfactants market there.

Fluorosurfactant has market potential because it is frequently used in the Middle East's oil fields to improve the performance of both aqueous and non-aqueous systems. There is a sizable demand for premium paint and coatings in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. The building industry is anticipated to grow significantly in Brazil and Argentina due to high discretionary incomes.

Segmental Analysis

The global fluorosurfactants market is segmented by type, application, and end-user.

Based on the type, the global market for fluorosurfactants is bifurcated into non-ionic, anionic, cationic, and amphoteric.

The non-ionic segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.69% during the forecast period. Non-ionic fluorosurfactants are less sensitive to water hardness because they do not have an electrical charge that could cause them to be deactivated in water. Non-ionic surfactants have good oil-emulsifying and wetting properties, which aid in removing organic soils. Widely used in paints and coatings, adhesives, inks, polish, and cleaners is a non-ionic fluorosurfactant.

Excellent anti-blocking, oil repellence, dirt pick-up resistance (DPR), and high performance are all features of anionic fluorosurfactants. These characteristics make anionic surfactants popular in paints, coatings, cleaning products, and waxes.

Based on the application, the global market for fluorosurfactants is bifurcated into paints and coatings, inks, polymers, adhesives, sealants, and caulks, waxes and polishes, and foamers.

The paints and coatings segment owns the highest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.99% during the forecast period. In the creation of paints and coatings, fluorosurfactant is widely used to enhance wetting, flow, and leveling on polluted surfaces and low-energy substrates. Foam reduction, the orange-peel effect, cratering, anti-blocking, UV resistance, UV coating, improved anti-soiling, and a decrease in the quantity and variety of other additives are all effects of this. For additional chemical resistance, anti-blocking, non-stick qualities, scratch resistance, and abrasion resistance, fluorosurfactants are used in coatings on bakeware.

Fluorosurfactants enhance wetting, leveling, penetration, and adhesion and reduce cratering in adhesives and sealants. Fluorosurfactants are useful for moistening dirty or contaminated surfaces, speeding up the drying process, and removing surface flaws and voids brought on by trapped bubbles during mixing applications. Fluorosurfactants are substances used in caulks to increase pore penetration, UV stability, anti-soiling, and durability.

Based on the end-user, the global fluorosurfactants market is bifurcated into automotive, construction and architecture, consumer goods, oilfields, and electronics.

The construction and architecture segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.44% during the forecast period. Fluorosurfactants have exceptional qualities that make them perfect materials for construction and architecture, including resistance to water, grease, stains, and soiling. Fluorosurfactants also improve surface durability by reducing freeze-thaw damage and offering durable defense against moisture, oils, grease, and stains. It is also employed to protect concrete, marble, and stone.

Fluorosurfactant solutions have a wide range of applications in formulating paints and coatings, textiles, and foamers, making them widely used in the automotive industry. Fluorosurfactants are used in the automotive sector to foam automotive leather seats to create an imperceptible barrier against water, oil, dirt, stains, and fire. In order to enhance the surface finish, glossiness, and anti-corrosion properties of the exterior and interior vehicle parts, fluorosurfactant solutions are also used for painting and coating them.

Recent Developments

• November 2022- Plans to address per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Cordova area were agreed upon by 3M and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By way of the agreement, 3M will advance its efforts to address prior PFAS manufacturing in the region and implement new and cutting-edge technologies at its Cordova site to improve the quality of water used in its operations.