ELMWOOD PARK, NJ - According to a new study by the consulting firm Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney, consumption of five of the leading additives for coatings and inks in 2013 was 1.02 million tons, as supplied, worth $4.66 billion. A 5% annual rate of growth is forecast through 2018. Included are rheology modifiers, foam-control agents, wetting agents, dispersants, and slip and rub materials.

Rheology modifiers are the largest additive type representing nearly 40% of the tons in 2013. A wide variety of rheology modifiers are used depending on a product’s technology and the properties required. Cellulosic, synthetic and inorganic are the major rheology modifier categories. Dispersants are the second-largest additive in volume with one-fifth of the tons. They range from high-volume polyacrylic/polycarboxylate types for titanium dioxide and fillers in waterborne architectural paints to highly specialized polymeric types for specific pigment use.

Foam-control additives were third in volume representing 17% of the tons in 2013. Products vary from higher-performance silicone, surfactant and polymer-based products to the widely used mineral oil-type products. Slip and rub materials were 13% of the volume. Silicone and wax products are used for slip and rub. In contrast to the other additive types where inks take less than 10% of the volume, about one-third of the slip and rub additives were used in inks.

Wetting agents were 11% of the additive tons. They range from high-volume alkoxylated surfactants to more specialized silicone, acrylic, acetylenic glycol derivatives and fluorosurfactants. In the alkoxylated surfactant category, alkyl phenol ethoxylates continue to lose out to other products owing to environmental concerns.

The above information is contained in Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney’s just released study, Global Coating & Ink Additives 2013-2018, which is available through subscription. For additional information, call 201/773.0785, e-mail nerlfikng@cs.com, or visit www.kusumgar-nerlfi-growney.com.