INTERNATIONAL. Electronics.ca Publications, the electronics industry market research and knowledge network, announced the availability of a new report entitled 'The Market for Nanocoatings to 2015'.

Currently, competitive rivalry is high in the nanomaterials sector. Companies are in the middle of a research and development race to develop and release new proprietary products for specific applications. Only the first to market will gain the competitive advantage to embrace the potential of nanotechnology, and this is the market focus at present.

As the nanotechnology market matures, the competitive rivalry will move from R&D to commercial as companies start fighting for return on investment, market development and market share.

The ability of controlling surface coatings at the nanoscale is of paramount importance for a large-scale industrial development of nanotechnology. At present, many physical and chemical methods are available for the nanofabrication of layers and coatings with nanometric control of the structural and functional features; however, the scale-up of these methods remains a major challenge.

The nanocoatings market is currently worth approximately US$814 in 2007. 'One way' coating systems based on nanomaterials make up the bulk of this market, for example in anti-bacterial; protective and conductive coatings. However, under developments are 'two way' systems such as shape-memory materials, hydrophobic/hydrophilic switching and thermochromic pigmented coatings that will come onto the market in the next four to five years.

Nanocoatings already represent a significant niche market with global revenue exceeding US$600 million in 2008. Regenerative self-cleaning and self-healing coatings represent the next wave of potentially disruptive technologies that are beginning to impact the market. By 2013 it is predicted that the market will exceed US$6.5 billion.

As with any new technology, there are certain commercial parameters to consider, which will likely hinder the widespread integration of nanotechnology into products and processes. Successful adoption of any particular application will be dependent on a nanotechnology solution being able to demonstrate significant functional benefits over existing products and an appropriate price point. This implies that nanomaterials must be produced in sufficient quantity volume at the appropriate quality, price and yield.

The adoption of nanomaterials is quite relevant in transportation, mainly in the automotive sector. Similar technologies are also included in high tech sports gadgets, for which experimental equipments can be designed and tested with less cost related challenging issues, before starting a wider diffusion at more reasonable costs. Important technical issues to be addressed will include enhanced actuator performance, device integration and cost reduction.

Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on the Electronics.ca Publications website at www.electronics.ca

Electronics.ca Publications is a world-class research network and publishing company whose focus is technology and market research for the electronics industry. Its network spans dozens of areas of electronics expertise, and taps the knowledge of researchers and analysts internationally. It delivers critical information on the semiconductor, advanced materials, nanotechnology, electronics manufacturing, wireless technology and converging markets, to name a few.

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