Metal Oxides Nanofiber Market Size (2024 – 2030)

As of 2023, the global market for Metal Oxide Nanofibers was valued at $138.48 million. It is anticipated to witness growth, reaching a market size of $377.42 million by 2030. The forecast for the period of 2024 to 2030 suggests a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.4%. The primary driver of this industry growth is the increasing demand within the pharmaceutical and medical sectors.

Industry Overview:

Metal oxide nanoparticles have been identified for their ability to break down nerve agents. However, their integration into clothing and respiratory filters has been a challenge. Nanofibers offer a solution by being incorporable into garments and respiratory filters while maintaining the necessary nano-scale surface reactivity for nerve agent detoxification. These nanofibers possess a large surface area, promoting high reactivity, while their length makes them suitable for integration into protective clothing and respiratory devices. By combining various fibers into composites, properties such as strength, porosity, and chemical absorption capabilities can be tailored. Such composites are ideal for protective respiratory equipment and clothing, enabling moisture exchange and alleviating thermal stress on the wearer. Secondary cell batteries, including nickel-cadmium, nickel/metal-hydride, and lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, account for nearly 10% of the global battery market. Among these, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries constitute a significant portion, with annual growth rates on the rise.

The expanding market for rechargeable and secondary cell batteries is attributed to increased sales in portable devices such as mobile phones and laptop computers. The current innovation focuses on metal oxide fibers and nanofibers, their manufacturing methods, and diverse applications. These metal oxide nanofibers exhibit the ability to absorb and break down chemical warfare agents and other toxic substances. They find utility in protective clothing, respiratory devices, and potentially in lithium-ion batteries. In one embodiment, the innovation pertains to titania, alumina, and/or magnesia fibers and nanofibers, alongside methods for their production. Additionally, alpha-phase aluminum oxide is utilized as a material in nanofibers.

COVID-19 Impact on Metal Oxides Nanofiber Market

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a notable impact on the healthcare sector. The use of metal oxides-based medication across various sectors saw an increase during the pandemic. It is anticipated that this trend will persist post-pandemic, fostering further growth in the market. While COVID-19 initially disrupted the nanofiber market globally, current estimations suggest a return to pre-pandemic levels, with gradual growth anticipated throughout the forecast period. The pandemic has caused disruptions to economies and industries worldwide, leading to government-imposed lockdowns, travel restrictions, and business closures. The chemical and materials industry is among those significantly affected, facing challenges such as supply chain interruptions, cancellations of technology events, and office closures.

Market Drivers:

The increasing adoption of nanofibers in air and liquid filtration systems is a key driver of market growth.

Nanofibers are commonly used as coatings on filtration substrates to enhance filtration capacity. Their unique physical characteristics, particularly their extensive interconnection and high specific surface area, prevent the passage of bacteria, viruses, and dust particles. In liquid filtration applications, nanofibers are effective in filtering water, beverages, blood, chemicals, gasoline, and oil. Nanofibers offer distinct physical properties such as high porosity, interconnected pore structure, and design flexibility. The use of nanofiber substrates results in initial efficiency improvements, reduced pressure drops, and significant energy savings compared to conventional filtration systems using standard substrates. This factor is expected to drive market growth in the forecast period.

The growing demand for nanofibers in medical textiles will further propel the market.

Nanofibers possess a range of unique properties that make them suitable for various applications in advanced textiles. The structure of nanofibers plays a crucial role in achieving specific functionalities for technical medical textiles (Medtech). Various formation mechanisms of structured functional nanofibers, such as core-shell, aligned, porous, composite, tubular, mechanical, and chemical, are being explored, along with the associated methodologies. Researchers are increasingly focusing on nanofibers as ideal materials and methods for Medtech applications, thereby expanding the scope of medical textiles. Biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical properties are key considerations for biomedical textile products, such as scaffolds. Electrospun nanofibers present a promising solution for medical textiles, as they form continuous nanofiber meshes that mimic the extracellular matrix. This aspect will contribute to the market growth of nanofibers in the forecast period.

Market Restraints:

The rising environmental concerns associated with the toxicity of nano products are restraining market growth.

The utilization of nanofibers can lead to nano pollution, referring to the byproducts or waste generated during the production of nanoscopic devices and materials. If these byproducts end up in landfills, they have the potential to contaminate air and water systems, posing environmental risks. With the advancement of nanotechnology, nano pollution is becoming a growing concern among environmentalists, given its potential impacts that are yet to be fully understood. Nanoparticles with small diameters can easily penetrate human cells, leading to significant molecular and DNA level changes. Consequently, these risks may lead to stringent regulatory actions against nanofiber manufacturers in the future, potentially impacting the growth of the nanofiber market in the forecast period.

Metal Oxides Nanofiber Market - By Type:

• Carbon
• Ceramic
• Composite
• others

The segment concerning polymer nanofibers claimed the largest portion of the nanofibers market in 2019. Polymer nanofibers are exceptionally thin fibers possessing a diameter within a nonmetric range, distinguished by their high surface area to volume ratio. These fibers are produced from distinct types of polymers, either naturally occurring or synthetically manufactured. Due to their remarkably precise surface area, exceptional porosity, and enhanced versatility in surface functionalities, polymer nanofibers serve significant roles across various domains. They are extensively utilized as a filtration medium within industries to achieve high-quality products. Furthermore, the increasing use of polymer nanofibers as scaffolds to develop an extracellular matrix for bone tissue and engineering purposes within the medical sector is driving the global demand for polymer nanofibers. The introduction of nanotechnology as a novel concept in interdisciplinary sciences is anticipated to further bolster the growth of polymer nanofibers throughout the forecast period. Additionally, the rising application of nanofibers for energy storage and various other uses, particularly in optical sensors, capacitors, transistors, and similar devices due to their high electrical conductivity within the electronics industry, presents favorable opportunities for major players operating in the polymer nanofiber market.

Metal Oxides Nanofiber Market - By Application:

• Water and Air Filtration
• Carbon filtration
• others

In terms of application, electrospun nanofiber-based filter media exhibit a high surface/volume ratio, low-pressure drop, precise interconnectivity of voids, and controllable connectivity and morphology, making them suitable for exceptional filtration purposes. These characteristics render nanofibers ideal for use in high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. HEPA filters are essential in industrial settings to maintain specific environments free from particulate contaminants, such as clean rooms. Most countries enforce stringent requirements for HEPA filters. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) stipulates that a HEPA filter must eliminate at least 99.97% of airborne particles sized 0.3 µm, among other criteria. The European standard defines various classes of HEPA with distinct requirements. The electrospun filter membrane is renowned for its exceptional filtration efficiency and performance, making it a potentially ideal choice for HEPA filters. In recent times, nanofibers derived from metal oxide semiconductors have been actively explored for numerous chemical and gas sensing applications, including air quality monitoring, detection of toxic and flammable gases, and environmental surveillance. These nanofibers demonstrate the ability to detect various reducing and oxidizing gases rapidly. While traditional N95 masks are typically made using polypropylene fibers, several startups have begun producing face masks using electrospun nanofibers following the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks fashioned from nanofibers capture aerosol droplets more effectively while offering increased breathability. However, the adoption of nanofiber masks remains relatively low compared to conventional N95 masks.

Metal Oxides Nanofiber Market - By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• The Middle East
• Africa

Geographically, Asia-Pacific commands the largest share of the global market. The escalating demand from industries such as healthcare, aerospace and defense, energy, and automotive has been propelling the market's growth.

The healthcare industry in China ranks as the second-largest globally, following the United States. By 2030, China is expected to represent 25% of the global healthcare industry's revenue share. This projected growth is set to drive the demand for nanofiber composites in applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, stem cell therapy, cancer treatment, and wound healing. Moreover, China boasts one of the largest wound dressings markets in the Asia-Pacific region, projected to register a CAGR of 6.7% over the next five years. The nation hosts numerous domestic and international wound management companies specializing in wound dressings, such as Chinamed and Exciton Technologies, primarily situated around major cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The automotive industry in China holds the title of the world's largest. In the first nine months of 2021, the industry witnessed a remarkable 53% increase in production compared to the same period in 2020. India's healthcare sector has also emerged as one of the country's largest industries. With the government's focus on enhancing healthcare, India's healthcare spending as a share of GDP is on a rapid rise. Additionally, India stands out as a favored destination for medical tourism due to its affordable yet quality healthcare, experiencing substantial growth in this sector. The healthcare segment in India is forecasted to reach USD 372 billion by 2022, primarily driven by increasing health awareness, improved access to insurance, rising incomes, and disease prevalence.

Metal Oxides Nanofiber Market Share by Company:

1. ESPN Technologies Inc
2. Teijin Limited
3. Toray Industries Inc
4. Hollingsworth and Vose Company
5. Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd
6. Toray Industries
7. Revolution Fibres
8. Donaldson
9. Elmarco
10. Johns Manville Corp

Recently, Celularity acquired Alliqua's biological wound care business for USD 29 million, a move projected to benefit both companies in the long term.

Asahi Kasei unveiled its expansion plans for the Leona Nylon 66 filament in Japan. This expansion aims to meet the growing demand fueled by increased vehicle production, stringent safety regulations, and the use of multiple airbags per vehicle.

The industry presents numerous growth prospects, leading to the entry of several startups offering innovative products and technologies.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GLOBAL METAL OXIDES NANOFIBER MARKET:

• Product Launch - In April 2021, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. introduced highly effective deodorant sheets utilizing cellulose nanofibers (CNF), produced from chemically processed pulp using the TEMPO catalytic oxidation method.
• Product Integration - In June 2020, Asahi Kasei announced its plans for expanding the Leona Nylon 66 filament in Japan. This expansion aims to meet the rising demand attributed to increased vehicle production, stringent safety regulations, and the utilization of more airbags per vehicle.