News: Solar Panels Drive Solid Growth for Polyolefin Elastomers

The global market for polyolefin elastomers and plastomers (POEs/POPs) is forecast to reach a 7.4% compound annual growth rate through 2030, approaching $6.3 billion in value, according to a report released by MLT Analytics. This impressive growth is set to be fueled by strong gains in solar panel encapsulation at the expense of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) resin and supported by advances in impact modification of automotive polypropylene (PP) compounds and sealant layers in flexible packaging.

MLT specified that, for the purposes of this report, POPs are defined as ethylene-based, metallocene-catalyzed plastomers of density 0.890 ≤0.915, while POEs are defined as ethylene-based, metallocene-catalyzed elastomers of density ≤0.889.

“2021 proved to be a breakout year for POE usage in solar module encapsulation,” said MLT Analytics CEO and co-founder Stephen Moore. “EVA supply constraints and resulting high prices, coupled with strong demand from the solar module sector in the second half of 2021, saw encapsulation sheet makers turn to POE to plug the supply gap. Now that POE has a stronger foothold, we expect it to make further gains accompanying increasing market penetration of bifacial solar modules, although POE is most likely to be used in conjunction with EVA rather than outright replacing it,” added Moore.

Another key area to watch, according to Moore, is sealant film for multilayer flexible packaging. “With the trend increasingly toward sustainable, monomaterial structures, lower sealing temperatures will become all the more important for converters, and POPs can deliver on this performance requirement while realizing an airtight seal,” noted Moore.

POE use as impact modifier growing in automotive applications

Electric and autonomous vehicle adoption is also driving growth prospects for POE use as an impact modifier, given the importance of lightweighting and the expectation that interiors of the future may utilize higher levels of PP. “Volume growth may be tempered by automaker and compounder efforts to minimize the use of costly POE impact modifiers in their formulations while still meeting the mechanical property requirements,” said Moore.

Footwear and hot-melt adhesives (HMAs) are other areas where POE suppliers plan to pursue market share, again at the expense of EVA. In these applications, competition is also anticipated from propylene-based elastomers. Used in blends with EVA, POEs can support higher foaming ratios for lighter weight sports shoe soles, as well as enhanced rebound resilience for faster lap times. POEs also bring several advantages over incumbent EVA solutions for adhesion, particularly in end-of-line paperboard and carton-board packaging. “While POE-based HMAs are costlier than EVA on a per-pound basis, the overall solution cost can be lower due to increased mileage and less line downtime, among other advantages,” said Moore.

Upstart materials suppliers on the horizon

On the supply side, incumbent POE/POP suppliers such as Dow Chemical, Mitsui Chemicals, ExxonMobil Chemical, SABIC SK Nexlene, LG Chem, and Borealis may not have the market to themselves for much longer. While several niche suppliers have traditionally been active in Japan, new entrants are expected to emerge in China and elsewhere in Asia in the near to medium term and transform the supply situation.

MLT Analytics was established in June 2021 in Singapore by plastics industry market research veteran Stephen Moore and partners with the intent of applying machine learning technology and artificial intelligence, augmented by extensive hands-on industry knowledge, to develop rational, robust, and reliable forecasts. Moore is a longtime contributing editor to PlasticsToday.