PTFE Breathable Films Market Size (2023 - 2030)

The PTFE Breathable Films Market was evaluated at $220 million in 2022, and it is projected to reach $317.68 million by the end of 2030, with a CAGR of 4.7% during the outlook period (2023 - 2030).

The primary drivers projected to propel the PTFE Breathable Films market are the multi-faceted properties offered by the polytetrafluoroethylene material and the increasing demand for PTFE breathable films in industries like medical & pharmaceutical as well as chemical processing.

Industry Overview:

The PTFE in the film market stands for polytetrafluoroethylene or the combination of multiple different atoms coming together to form a complex molecule. This molecule is the combination of carbon atoms that form ethylene and the fluorine atoms that add tetrafluoro to the same. Therefore, the combination of four fluorine atoms and the ethylene molecule formed with carbon, multiple times, makes the complex chemical of polytetrafluoroethylene. The PTFE films are used in various products overall across several different markets. They find their usage in the production of medical equipment like surgical caps, surgical gowns, protective gowns, surgical towels, and more. These products are used in medical centers for long periods of time and are constantly in touch with human contact. Therefore, it is very essential to make them breathable. This calls for the usage of the PTFE breathable films market. They provide the same coverage as regular films but provide an extra breathability factor on top.

COVID-19 Impact on the PTFE Breathable Films Market:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major effect on global living and economic conditions. As a result of the virus most markets and industries were shut down. The manufacturing factories were shut down, the supply of raw materials was cut off for several different industries, and the workers that kept the industries running were all asked to abide by the lockdown rules and regulations like the rest of the citizens. The virus that spread the pandemic was initially considered to be a flu virus but that had been discovered to be much more fatal than the average common flu. Therefore, the lockdown and quarantine restrictions that were set in place needed to be strict and enforced mandatorily. This affected the overall PTFE breathable films market as the supply chain issues caused problems in production. But a large application of the market lies in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors which saw a boom during the pandemic. Therefore, even though the market suffered overall, some sectors were not that badly affected which made it relatively in a good place compared to other industries that suffered majorly.

Market Drivers:

The multi-faceted properties offered by the polytetrafluoroethylene material are poised to drive the market growth for PTFE Breathable Films:

The PTFE films overall are extremely multi-faceted. This is a key reason for finding their application across several different industries. These films are resistant to both heat and several chemicals. This makes them perfect for use under high temperature and thermal conditions as well as when they are being subjected to various different chemicals of different strength capabilities. They also possess high tensile strength which implies that they can withstand various strengths and not break. They have high weather ability and load-bearing abilities which makes them ideal for high-pressure situations. These properties provide great options to be used for various sectors.

The increasing demand for PTFE breathable films in industries like medical & pharmaceutical as well as chemical processing help to drive market growth:

The combination of carbon and fluorine in the breathable films market makes up for very different properties that find their use across different industries. The coefficient of friction is very low and their ability to resist temperature changes is very high which makes them ideal for the automotive as well as other industries. They depict dielectric properties of heat and chemical resistance which is ideal for the electronics and electricals market. They are also great insulants which is more beneficial for the same. Beyond that, their chemical resistivity makes them ideal for petrochemical and chemical processing industries which are a major part of their application. The PTFE Breathable films are called so because of their lightness and breathability. This makes them ideal for manufacturing surgical gowns, surgical caps, protective gowns, and more medical equipment. Therefore, their usage across various different industries is helping boost the PTFE breathable films market growth.

Market Restraints:

The PTFE Breathable Films Market's growth is being stifled by its property of lower creep resistance as well as uneven trends across different applications:

Creep resistance refers to any material’s ability to withstand compression, and pressure from a high load over long periods of time. The PTFE breathable films despite being multi-faceted have very low creep resistance. When they are subjected to extremely high temperatures, they convert to a sort of gel-like material and become difficult to mold. This affects the market growth. Also, the different applications of the market grow at different rates. Post-pandemic, the medical and pharmaceutical sectors have seen a rise but the other sectors are finding it tough to cope. Therefore its growth is uneven across different markets which restrains the market overall.

 PTFE BREATHABLE FILMS MARKET REPORT COVERAGE:

This research report on the global PTFE Breathable Films Market has been segmented based on technology, film type, application, and region.

PTFE Breathable Films Market- By Technology

• Cast Technology

•  Extruded Technology

• Skived Technology

The cast and extrusion technologies are relatively popular among consumers but skived technology holds the largest market share. Skived PTFE breathable films are extremely popular and used globally by all related industries. Skiving is a very technical process that includes the skiving off of or removal of the thin upper layer of a given sheet, film, or plastic. They are made from pure virgin resins and are used in very sensitive conditions. The packaging of contamination-free pharmaceutical items or in chemical processing to avoid chemicals coming in contact with externally modifying conditions.

PTFE Breathable Films Market - By Film Type

• Micro-Porus

• Monolithic/Non-Porus

In 2022, the non-porous or monolithic films segment is anticipated to be the dominant segment accounting for more than 63% market share. This can be attributed to the wide usage of non-porus films such as diapers, napkins, sanitary types, and clothing apparel. The properties of non-porous films make them widely popular over microporous films.

However, the microporous film type is projected to witness a steady growth rate over the outlook period. The growing demand for microporous film materials across several industry verticals makes it suitable for manufacturing sports apparel and hygiene types.

PTFE Breathable Films Market- By Application

• Medical and Pharmaceuticals

• Electrical and Electronics

• Chemical Processing Industry

• Aviation and Aerospace

• Defense

•  Automotive

•  Other Applications

The medical and pharmaceutical sector has held the largest market share for the PTFE breathable films market. The films are used in various products across the industry that include protective gear for medical personnel like surgical and protective gowns, surgical towels, and more. The electrical and electronics segment is estimated to grow at the fastest rate owing to the dielectric properties exhibited by the films. As aforementioned, they are chemical resistant, electrically insulative, and offer dielectric properties. This makes them ideal to be used in the electrical and electronics market.

PTFE Breathable Films Market- By Region

• North America

• Europe

• Asia-Pacific

• South America

• Middle East and Africa

The Asia-Pacific region holds the largest market share and it is estimated to grow significantly during the forecast period as well. Several applications of the PTFE breathable films can be observed in the Asia-Pacific market making it the biggest market player in relation to its competitors. The pharmaceuticals market contributes a major portion towards this growth which is paired with the development of the electrical and electronics sector. Countries like India, China, and Japan are large consumers of electronics and the Japanese defense investment has also aided the market growth.

Major Key Players in the Market

1. Saint-Gobain

2. 3M

3. Nitto Denko

4. Rogers Corporation

5. Guarniflon

6. Technetics Group

7. Chukoh Chemical Industries

8. DUNMORE Corporation

9. Markel Corporation

10. The Chemours Company

Market Insights and Developments

• In February 2020, RoofTopGuard Breather was launched by a very famous German company in the breathable films market called RKW Group. It boasts of being extremely water resistant and has a permeability of 180 and makes for very good rooftop underlay.

• In January 2021, Garlock Printing and Converting was acquired by a major player in the market Astara Capital Partners LLC. This is expected to help the latter develop its market foothold in the sustainable and breathable films market.