Advanced and specialty glasses are being used for high technology and specialty applications. Compared to traditional glasses, many advanced and specialty glasses may contain specific additions or may be of entirely different compositions. Novel processes have been developed for many of these compositions. Certain properties of these glasses are substantially improved, making them useful for high technology and specialty applications. High performance glasses include fused silica, silicates, borosilicates, phosphates, germanates, chalcogenides, ionic glasses such as halides, nitrates, sulfates and carbonates, and glass-ceramics.
According to a soon-to-be-released updated report from Business Communications Company, Inc, RGB-094N Advanced Glasses and Glass Ceramics: Materials, Processing, New Developments, the North American market for advanced and specialty glasses reached $2.3 billion in 2002. This market is expected to grow at an AAGR (average annual growth rate) of 7.8% per year to reach $3.3 billion by 2007. The global market was estimated at $8.5 billion in 2002, and is expected to grow at an AAGR of 8.3% to $12.6 billion in 2007.
The use of advanced glasses varies widely. The major applications are optical fibers used for telecommunications, substrates for electronic displays, thick film packaging and substrates, optical disc substrates, aerospace and high performance composites, medical and dental implants, dental materials and radiation shielding.
Of the total North American market, glass optical fibers used for telecommunications, as well as data communications and glass components for electronics, now constitute more than 80% of the total market, and it is expected to continue at the same level until the year 2007. Optical glass (mainly fiber) constitutes 23% of the market in 2002. This will slightly decrease to 21% by the year 2007. The largest market for advanced and specialty glasses is in electronics displays, which include CRTs, LCDs and gas and vacuum discharge displays. This market in North America is worth ~$1.3 billion in 2002 and is expected to reach almost $2 billion by the year 2007. The global market will grow from $4.8 billion in 2002 to $7.8 billion in 2007.
Over 60% of the total market is for electronic applications. The combined electronics segment market for North America is $1.4 billion in 2002. This is estimated to increase to $2.2 billion by 2007. This is followed by optical fibers and other applications as the second largest market worth $532 million in 2002, which will further increase to $704 million by the year 2007.
The medical/dental market will have relatively strong growth, as demand for dental aesthetics increases and new products come on the market. Certain applications will fuel this growth, including glass-ceramic crowns and DNA microanalysis. Overall, demand for advanced glasses is expected to grow as new applications in these various segments come on the market.
In terms of global competition, North America leads in several areas, including optical fiber and substrates for displays, since Corning Inc has the largest market share in these areas. Japan follows closely behind in these two market segments, since a number of companies are major producers. Europe is another strong competitor because of Schott Corp, a major player in many market segments. North America leads in aerospace/high performance applications since one company dominates the glass-fiber reinforced composite market. The medical/dental market is dominated by North America and Europe. Although North America is the overall leader in advanced glasses, Japan and/or Europe could gain the lead in the future.
