Global FKM Rubber Market Anticipated to Reach US$ 2,053.6 Million by 2031

According to a recent market study published by Growth Market Reports, titled, “Global FKM Rubber Market by type, by grade, by application, by end-use industry, by distribution channel, and by Region: Size, Share, Trends and Opportunity Analysis, 2016-2031”, the market was valued at USD 1,573.5 Million in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a growth rate of 5.2% by the year 2031.

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Fluoroelastomers (FKM) rubber is also known as fluorocarbon elastomers. It is a key component in industries that are exposed to ozone attacks, harsh chemical conditions, and intense temperatures. FKM rubber handles environments from as low as -40°C and as high as 250°C. FKM has a high fluorine to hydrogen ratio and has been shown to be extremely resistant to a wide range of industrial chemicals, including acids, methanol, steam, silicone & petroleum-based oils, diesel fuel, and other highly polar liquids. Strong carbon and fluorine bonds prevent chemical saturation even when exposed to high temperature and maintain stability. The high the carbon-fluorine content in a product makes resistance to corrosive substances prominent in the product. Low viscosity polymers are typically used to aid mold flow in extrusion and complex part configurations.

FKM rubber provides solutions for both the aerospace and automotive industries, and the national defense for building high-performance machines that require high-quality parts to ensure stability under high stress conditions. FKM compounds typically have a hardness of 55 to 90 durometer. Common applications for FKM in the aviation industry include O-rings, shafts, seals, connectors, fuel hoses, and other electrical connection components that are exposed to significant temperature and pressure fluctuations during flight. In the automotive industry, synthetic FKM rubber helps power high-performance engines that combine oil and chemicals at high temperatures.

The FKM Rubber Market has been fragmented based on by Type, by Grade, by Application, by End-Use Industry, and by Distribution Channel. By Type, the Global FKM Rubber Market is categorized as copolymer, terpolymer, low temperature polymer, and others. Based on grade, the FKM rubber market is categorized as general grade and high-performance grade. In terms of application, the market is categorized as seals, gasket, hose, O-rings, and others. Based on end-use industry, the market is categorized as automotive, aerospace, semiconductor, energy & power, chemical processing, oil & gas, and others. On the basis of distribution channel, the market is divided into manufacturers (direct sales) and wholesalers/distributors. Considering regions, the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.

Key factors that are anticipated to fuel the demand for FKM Rubber market during the forecast period are extensively used in the chemical industry. Moreover, the chemical industry is expanding at a rapid pace due to rising technological advancements and R&D activities. FKM is used to make seals due to its high thermal resistivity and chemical sustainability. FKM seals are typically used in equipment, such as reactors, columns, pipelines, pipe connections, heat exchangers, and process vessels.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted economic disparities, global interdependence, and governance challenges. Pandemics are isolated concerns for businesses and prospects for emerging patterns and vulnerabilities. COVID-19 has a moderate impact on the industry due to the simultaneous reduction of supply and demand. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a slight slowdown in market expansion. Once these sectors have recovered from the pandemic's effects, the market for other end-user industries is expected to restore its growth rate.

As per Growth Market Reports industry analyst Riddhesh Dani, “The seals made from fluoroelastomer are suitable for machines that handle chemicals. They are used to prevent the leakage of fluids in rotating equipment, such as engines, compressors, and turbines. These seals prevent lubricants, such as oil and grease, from leaking into the environment. Some chemicals are highly sensitive and toxic to the environment. These chemicals require specific packaging to maintain quality and standards. Sealings and gaskets are usually made from materials that are long-lasting and have the ability to withstand hazardous chemical exposure, to increase the shelf life of these chemicals. Thus, the growing demand for high-end seals and gaskets from the chemical industry is driving the FKM rubber market.”

A supply chain is a network between a manufacturer and suppliers to produce and distribute a specific product to the final buyers. This network includes different people, regulatory bodies, entities, information, and resources. Raw materials used in the production of FKM rubber include vinylidene fluoride (VDF) hexafluoropropylene (HFP), and others, which are shipped to manufacturers to be processed further. These raw materials are stored at raw material warehouses or directly at manufacturing sites. Raw materials are inspected to ensure the quality of products.

Key Takeaways from the Study:

• The players in the FKM Rubber market include 3M, AGC Group, DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, Ltd, The Chemours Company, Freudenberg, Greene Tweed, HaloPolymer, Solvay, Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited, Trelleborg AB held a major market share of the FKM Rubber market in the year 2021.

• Prices for rubber materials are rising, due to geopolitical and pandemic-related factors as well as the increased demand of the FKM rubber. Moreover, factors such as high labor costs and transportation charges result in high costs for rubber elastomers. The production of fluoroelastomer requires a significant amount of petrochemical and non-petrochemical feedstocks. These elastomers represent the expensive rubber commercially available. Thus, fluctuating raw material prices affect the market.

• In terms of type, the market is segmented into, copolymer, terpolymer, low temperature polymer, and others. Copolymer is a standard type of FKM rubber, which show good performance. The copolymer is differentiated on the basis of fluorine content. Terpolymer is composed of hexafluoropropylene (HFP), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), and vinylidene fluoride (VF2/VDF). This terpolymer has high fluorine content than copolymer, typically between 68 and 69 weight percent fluorine. The high fluorine content results in improved chemical resistance. Pentapolymers are composed of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), hexafluoropropylene (HFP), ethylene, fluorinated vinyl ether (FVE), and VDF. These polymers are resistant to hydrogen sulfide, even at high temperature.

• Based on grade, the FKM rubber market is categorized as general grade and high-performance grade. This type of FKM O-rings, gasket, and seals are suited for industries such as energy, automotive, industrial manufacturing. However, this general grade is not approved for the pharmaceutical, medical, and food & beverage industries. High performance grade FKMs are cured by peroxide for improved resistance to acid and steam. It has better low-temperature flexibility than general grade.

• Based on Applications, the FKM rubber market is categorized as seals, gasket, hose, O-rings, and others. FKM rubber is used to produce seals, which are known as fluorocarbon seals. These seals are widely used in various industries such as food & pharmaceutical, aerospace, and semiconductor manufacturing. Gaskets are made up from fluoroelastomer, a synthetic rubber which is well known for its hard-wearing properties. The gaskets that are made from fluoroelastomer are usually used in the oil and gas industry. O-rings are made from various materials such as FKM rubber. Fluoroelastomer (FKM) O-rings offer high resistance to oil, chemical, ozone, and others. The others segment includes butterfly valve, diaphragms, valve plates, and expansion joints. Butterfly Valve: This valve is made of FKM rubber, and it is designed for heavy duty applications such as low-pressure hydraulic fracturing. It is used for low pressure transfer of chemicals, water, slurries, acids, and other liquids. Diaphragms: It is made from FKM Rubber. It is used for various industrial applications such as environmental engineering, chemical industry, and processing industry. It offers excellent resistance to oil, solvent, chemicals, and others. Valve Plate: Valve plate is designed from high quality FKM rubber. The valve plate is long lasting and durable. Using valve plate made up of FKM rubber reduces the risk of equipment damage caused by leaks. Expansion Joints: Expansion joints are made from FKM rubber, and they are used for various application where high temperature products and aggressive chemicals are involved.

• Based on end-use industry, the market is categorized as automotive, aerospace, semiconductor, energy & power, chemical processing, oil & gas, and others. In the automotive industry, O-rings and seals are used in head, fuel injection, intake manifolds, and others. FKM offers high resistance to oil, fuel, ozone, ageing and weathering. In aerospace industry the FKM rubber is used for various purposes. These include O-rings, shafts, gaskets, joints, fuel hoses, and other electrical connector components that are subject to extreme temperatures and pressure changes during flights. The semiconductor industry is uses toxic gases and fluids, which place extreme demands upon seal materials and design. FKM seals are commonly used in semiconductor and electronic industries for downstream applications such as wet process and vacuum pumps applications. FKM rubber is widely used in nuclear power plants. FKM rubber is highly resistant to heat, oil, and aggressive chemicals. Additionally, it has excellent resistance to acids. The chemical processing industry is engaged in the manufacture, production, storage, and transport of chemicals, chemical substances, and products. This industry produces a wide range of chemicals based on customizations that blend two or more chemicals together to prepare a finished product. Seals used in the oil & gas industry have to be designed to withstand high temperatures and pressures and a chemically hostile environment. The material used for the seal depends on the conditions, where it has to be installed. Sealing in food and pharmaceutical is challenging, as the sealing materials need to be resilient to different food types and ingredients.

• On the basis of distribution channel, the market is divided into manufacturers (direct sales) and wholesalers/distributors. Manufacturers prefer a direct-to-consumer (DTC) approach, instead of depending on intermediaries to sell their products to customers. Distributors transport, market, and sell items in several ways by working in collaboration with manufacturing companies. A distributor increases the reach of a company to a large number of consumers, thereby improving its market share.

• In terms of regions, the Global FKM rubber market is divided into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The market in Europe is anticipated to expand at a moderate rate during the forecast period. Europe accounts for high production of chemicals, after Asia Pacific. Increasing demand for FKM rubber products from the chemical & petroleum industry is supporting the market growth in Europe. The market in North America is positively impacted by stringent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and the growing need to reduce harmful emissions from rotating machinery across the industrial sector. This requires the use of seals that sustain harsh environments. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to develop at a rapid rate during the forecast period, due to the high growth of the semiconductor industry in the region. Emerging economies such as India are focusing on increasing the production of electronics and their components. Saudi Arabia, major crude producer in OPEC and the largest economy, is expected to dominate the region in terms of energy investments in the coming years.

Report Scope:

Target Audience:

• Supply-side: Manufacturer and distributors.

• Demand Side: Chemical, automotive, aerospace & defense industry.

• Regulatory Side: Concerned government authorities, and other approval regulatory bodies.

• Associations and Industry Bodies: CISA, US EPA, REACH.