Sizing
agent is a substance that is commonly applied to fibers to impart
desired qualities. Sizing agents are generally used to reduce
porosity of fibers in order to make them suitable for printing. These
chemicals increase the resistance properties of fiber to the
penetration of water or other liquid. Sizing agents can be broadly
categorized into two types: surface sizing agents and internal sizing
agents. Alkyl succinic anhydride (ASA), rosin, and alkyl ketene dimer
(AKD) are the most commonly used internal sizing agents, whilestyrene
maleic anhydride (SMA), styrene acrylic acid (SAA), styrene acrylic
emulsion (SAE), gelatin, polyurethane (PUR), and ethylene acrylic
acid (EAA) are the popular surface sizing agents. Sizing agents are
also classified into natural and synthetic, based on the raw
materials used in their manufacture. Sizing agents are mostly used in
the textile and paper industries. Fiber is treated with sizing agents
during papermaking.This improves the ink-holding capacity,
therebyincreasing the printability of the paper. Furthermore, sizing
agents improve the quality of yarn used in the textile industry.This
prevents the breakage of fibers.
Thickener
or thickening agents are substances that are used to increase the
viscosity of a fluid without changing any other properties.
Thickening agents are used in the food and beverages industry to
increase the viscosity of food and beverages such as soups and sauces
without altering their tastes. Thickening agents are also used as
gelling agents in food products such as desserts, jams, and jellies.
Furthermore, thickening agents are used as additives inks, paints,
cosmetics, and other personal hygiene products.In cosmetics and
personal hygiene products thickening agents acts a stabilizer for an
emulsion. Thickening agent prevent settling and clustering in paints
and inks. These agents are classified into mineral thickening agents
and hydrocolloid thickening agents. Silica, clay, cellulose, and
starch are the commonly used thickening agents.
Asia
Pacific is the fastest growing market for sizing
and thickening agents.
However, demand for sizing and thickening agents is high in North
America and Europe. Companies manufacturing food and beverages in
North America and Europe are the largest end-users of sizing and
thickening agents. Demand for thickening agents is high in Europe
owing to the extensive manufacturing of cosmetic and
paints..Production of sizing and thickening agents has increased
significantly in Asia Pacific and emerging economies in Latin America
due to trade linearization and lower manufacturing cost. Demand for
sizing &thickening agents is expected to rise in Asia Pacific due
to growth in food & beverages and paints & coating industries
in the region. Therefore, key players in the sizing & thickening
agents market are investing significantly in emerging economies to
expand their market share. Food & beverages and paper industries
cumulatively account for almost half the demand for sizing
&thickening agents. Demand for thickening agents is higher as
compared to sizing agents, owing to their extensive usage in
diversified applications. Thickening agents account for more than
half of the global demand for sizing and thickening agents. Increase
in production of paints and cosmetics, fuelled by improvement in
standard of living and growing industrializing, is likely to boost
the market for sizing &thickening agents during the forecast
period.
Some
of the key manufacturers of sizing &thickening agents include
Ashland, Cargill Incorporated, CP Kelco, DuPont, The Dow Chemical
Company, BASF SE, and AKZO Nobel N.V.
