Industry Trends: Building and Construction
In the construction market, there exists major campaigns for environmentally friendly or "green" buildings. These applications will require more environmentally-friendly adhesives and sealants.
The Adhesives and Sealants Council is working with various groups to promote the use of fewer volatile organic compounds (VOC), thus reducing emission and odours that contribute to respiratory problems and poor air quality in buildings. In addition to VOC emissions, odour has been a major problem for flooring adhesives.
One key demand that may be reflected in the market growth rate is the drive to longer-lasting, more durable products. This includes moisture-curing polyurethane adhesives and high performance sealants such as polyurethane, silicone, and styrene block copolymers. The demands of today's new construction techniques also require new products to age well and perform under a variety of environmental extremes. Natural disasters making headlines over the past several years have brought additional focus on the subject. The roofing industry is developing storm resistant adhesives that can be used on single ply roof construction. The subject of mould growth has also risen to an advanced state in the industry. New antimicrobial ingredients are being developed to inhibit the growth of mould and mildew on the surface of sealants and adhesives as well as on the surfaces of other building materials.
In the infrastructure construction sector, the use of adhesives is expected to grow significantly due to aging infrastructures. Also, the use of epoxy adhesive systems with fiber reinforcement is expected to increase significantly. Such adhesives will be applied to bridge piers, beams, and other elements requiring repair. These adhesives can be used to not only repair deteriorating structures but they will also provide added strength to new structures.
The continued adoption of green building on a global scale seems promising as more and more countries are building organizations seeking to establish standards and incentives to promote sustainable building practices.