Nafion Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Growing Demand for Clean Energy: The average worldwide concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) climbed by 2.13 parts per million (ppm) to 417.06 ppm, nearly at the same rate as the previous ten years. Compared to pre-industrial levels, atmospheric CO2 is currently 50% greater. Hence, the need to reduce this emission is growing. Therefore, the market for nafion is on surge. 
• Surge in Use of Fluoropolymers Across Various Industries: Due to their wide range of qualities, fluoropolymers have garnered a lot of interest in the realm of energy applications. The incorporation of nanofillers into the fluoropolymer to form the nanohybrid enhances properties including thermal, mechanical, gas permeation, and more. Nanohybrids based on fluoropolymers have supplanted various commercial materials owing to their chemical inertness, enhanced efficacy, and durability. These elements play a part in the expanding use of fluoropolymers including Nafion in numerous sectors.
• Increasing Product Launch & Investments: The demand for nafion membranes in the power industry is rising as a result of rising product releases, investments, and funding in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology. Nafion membrane is essential to proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, consequently, its development is anticipated to offer abundant chances for market expansion.

Challenges

• Higher Cost Associated with Nafion
• Performance Limitations – While Nafion is highly efficient in some applications, such as fuel cells, it may not be the best material for all applications. For instance, it may not be as effective in certain water treatment applications, particularly in the case where larger molecules or particles need to be removed from the water. As a result, there is a need to develop alternative materials that can provide better performance in specific applications.
• Environmental Concerns