The conductive adhesives market is forecasted to grow at a rate of 6.6%, fuelled by their direct impact upon emerging technology trends. Conductive adhesives play a critical role in semiconductor manufacturing, but they can introduce bulk, moisture, and shrinkage. The industry is experiencing an upsurge in innovation to overcome these issues, with flexible, slow-drying fabrications bringing new benefits to the manufacturing process.
Driving Trends in Industrial Adhesives
Emerging automotive sensors and flexible displays are expected to bring some exciting growth and advancements to this area. Adhesives are also being improved upon to achieve perfect positioning during manufacture. Vinyl resin technology has an important role in advancements for its improved performance and functional texture.
There is no single perfect solution, because every application requires different adhesive properties for best results. Solvent-based applications require tough chemical resistance, while water and hybrid-based applications have their own needs. As such, the market is segmented into five chemical foundations:
- Epoxy
- Polyurethane
- Silicone
- Acrylate
- Other
In addition to these, the electrically conductive industry is broken down into silver, graphite, copper, and nickel.
Applications of Conductive Adhesives
Surface mount device applications have become more popular in recent years, and their use of conductive adhesives demonstrates the sheer breadth of benefits such materials introduce. They can be designed to suit almost any substrate, and can even be used on heat sensitive technology. The range of conductive adhesives has multiplied to suit a huge range of fillers and curing demands. They can offer thermal stability, strength, and electromagnetic interference shielding. They’re also an important substitute for soldering.
In the near future, the market will evolve as opportunities emerge in new industries including aerospace and the biosciences. Researchers see the automotive industry as the largest segment by value. Asia Pacific is the largest region, but North America is expected to grow into its own role in the sector.