Intensifying Manufacturing Activity to Boost Demand for Superhard Materials

GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Superhard Materials markets. Global market for Superhard Materials is projected to reach US$23 billion by 2020, driven by improving economy and intensifying manufacturing activity and the ensuing rise in demand for machine tools used for turning, cutting, drilling, boring and grinding operations. 

Superhard materials refer to extremely hard materials with over 40 GPa on the Vickers hardness scale. Owing to their incomparable hardness, superhard materials can scratch, indent or shape any object and hence find use in a wide range of industrial operations related to turning, cutting, drilling, boring and grinding. Cement carbide is generally used in industrial applications for machining tough materials such as carbon steel or stainless steel, while advanced ceramics are used in the production of ceramic products for a number of specific applications, requiring toughness and electrically conductive similar to metals. Tool steels are a combination of carbon and alloy steels that are used for producing tools.

Diamond is the strongest natural material, and is hence used in various industrial applications. Even though diamond possesses superior properties, the material has several technological limitations in form of restricted working temperature of up to 600°C and conversion to graphite at temperatures above 900°C. As a result, cubic boron nitride (CBN) is being used as a substitute for diamond in several high temperature applications. With the dynamics of the superhard materials market closely linked to the trends in end-use industries, the market witnessed significant erosion in sales during the 2007-2009 economic recession. Decline in manufacturing output led to broad-based declines in the use of superhard materials in equipment/machinery and manufacturing sectors. However, with manufacturing activity currently gathering momentum, the market is positioned favorably to tap into emerging opportunities.

As stated by the new market research report on Superhard Materials, Asia-Pacific represents the largest and the fastest growing regional market with a CAGR of 6.4% over the analysis period. Developing countries, with their huge population base, strong manufacturing activity, and rising demand for consumer devices, offer significant opportunities for growth. Cemented Carbides represents the largest product market. Though a number of alternative materials have emerged over the years, cemented carbides continue to find preference owing to their productivity, cost, and tool life, particularly in engineering applications. In the coming years, global demand for cemented carbide is expected to grow, led by the continuous growth in automobile production. CBN/PCBN is expected to witness the fastest growth led by its use as an abrasive in machining and cutting applications. Automotive industry continues to be the major end-use segment and a key growth area for CBN abrasives.