U.S. specialty silica demand to reach $1.65 billion in 2011.U.S. specialty silica silica or silicon dioxide, chemical compound, SiO2. It is insoluble in water, slightly soluble in alkalies, and soluble in dilute hydrofluoric acid. Pure silica is colorless to white. (synthetic amorphous Unorganized or vague. A lack of structure. For example, the amorphous state of a spot on a rewritable optical disc means that the laser beam will not be reflected from it, which is in contrast to a crystalline state which will reflect light. See crystalline. silicas or synthetically produced noncrystalline silicon dioxide silicon dioxide: see silica. (SiO2) A hard, glassy mineral found in such materials as rock, quartz, sand and opal. In MOS chip fabrication, it is used to create the insulation layer between the metal gates of the top layer and the silicon elements below. ) demand is forecast to expand 5.4% annually to $1.65 billion in 2011, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a report by The Freedonia Group. Best opportunities are anticipated for applications in the rubber industry, which represents the most significant specialty silica market. More rapid gains, however, will be experienced by the lower volume electrical and electronic equipment market, primarily due to the use of specialty silicas in the manufacture of semiconductors. Volume growth overall will remain healthy. However, silica prices will moderate from high 2006 levels, limiting value gains to some extent, according to Freedonia. Precipitated silica constitutes the largest silica type, both in volume and value. Through 2011, growth in precipitated silica demand will be led by increasingly rapid advances in the large volume tire rubber sector, in which silica reinforcement reinforcement /re·in·force·ment/ (-in-fors´ment) in behavioral science, the presentation of a stimulus following a response that increases the frequency of subsequent responses, whether positive to desirable events, or is used for fuel efficient green tires. Gains will be dependent upon the level of penetration of these tires in the U.S. market. Fumed fume n. 1. Vapor, gas, or smoke, especially if irritating, harmful, or strong. 2. A strong or acrid odor. 3. A state of resentment or vexation. v. silica will experience the fastest advances, spurred by growth in the electronics market, which primarily utilizes fumed silica in slurries. These slurries are used to polish semiconductor substrates, especially silicon wafers wafers compressed roughage in flat plates useful for feeding to animals in transit. , and have been increasingly used in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP CMP (cytidine monophosphate): see cytosine. (1) (CMP Media LLC, Manhasset, NY, www.cmp.com) Part of United Business Media, CMP is a leading integrated media company that offers a wide variety of publications and services in the information ) processes. Despite being the smallest silica type by volume, fumed silica constitutes an important segment of the specialty silica market in value terms, due to its high price relative to other silica types. The rubber industry will remain the largest market for specialty silicas through 2011, experiencing growth in both tire and nontire segments. Nontire applications, which include the production of silicone rubber Noun 1. silicone rubber - made from silicone elastomers; retains flexibility resilience and tensile strength over a wide temperature range synthetic rubber, rubber - any of various synthetic elastic materials whose properties resemble natural rubber , footwear and industrial rubber products, will grow at a below average rate. More rapid gains in the tire rubber market will result from a modest rebound rebound (rē´bownd), n/v 1. a recovery from illness. n 2. an outbreak of fresh reflex activity after withdrawal of a stimulus rebound adjective in motor vehicle production and the penetration of silica reinforced motor vehicle tires offering greater fuel efficiency. Demand for specialty silicas in the electrical and electronic equipment industry will grow faster than any other market, both by value and volume. Although this industry accounts for less than one-tenth of the silica market by volume, it is second only to the rubber industry in dollar terms. Compounded rubber trade balance stays positive. Although exports of unvulcanized compounded rubber for the first half of this year were off 2% compared to 2006, they are on pace to surpass 2006's total value of over $518 million. Exports of compounded rubber totaling $265.68 million outpaced imports of almost $177 million for the first six months of 2007. For the first half of 2007, the U.S. exported $336.78 million worth of compounds containing carbon black or silica. Imports of these compounds for the same period totaled $258.5 million. For a detailed breakdown of the trade balance in compounded rubber, click here: [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
U.S. specialty silica demand (million $)
2001- 2006-
2001 2006 2011 2006 2011
Precipitated silica 342 505 655 8.1 5.3
Fumed silica 265 397 560 8.4 7.1
Silica gel 157 196 222 4.5 2.5
Silica sol 82 122 152 8.3 4.5
Fused silica 40 50 61 4.6 4.1
Total 886 1,270 1,650 7.5 5.4
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