Unidirectional Tapes Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Fiber (Carbon, Glass), By Resin Type (Thermoplastic, Thermoset), By End-use (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The unidirectional tapes market size was estimated at USD 154.3 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.9% from 2021 to 2028. The rapidly increasing demand for lightweight components in the automotive and aerospace industries is expected to drive the demand for unidirectional (UD) tapes over the forecast period. Temporary closure of industrial operations to curb the spread of COVID-19 outbreak across the globe had negatively impacted the manufacturing operations in 2020. Thus, hampered the product demand in the automotive and aerospace parts manufacturing operations. A surge in the usage of automotive adhesive tapes for bonding electronic products in car interiors, coupled with the rising production of electric and hybrid vehicles in the U.S., is projected to fuel the growth.

In addition, the high sensitivity of manufacturers located in the economy towards automobiles aesthetics is expected to benefit the market. The development of advanced products for sealing, coupled with rising investments in R&D for the production of advanced high-strength adhesive tapes, is projected to drive the product demand over the forecast period. In addition, the development of eco-friendly solvent recovery technology used for the coating of adhesives is expected to drive the product demand in the coming years.

The market is expected to be driven by the growth in the usage of UD tapes as a replacement for metals in exterior and interior systems in automobiles and aircraft for reduction of their overall weight by about 40%, to achieve high fuel efficiency levels, and reduce the emission levels to the outer atmosphere. The market growth is expected to be restrained by the high cost of unidirectional tapes as compared to metals. The manufacturers usually prefer metals in all major applications to reduce their production costs. Furthermore, the market is concentrated in North America and Europe, due to which, the product adoption is significantly low in other regions, thus limiting the market growth.

Resin Type Insights

The thermoplastic resin type segment accounted for the largest revenue share of 74.7% in 2020. The product offers exceptional strength, flexibility, and durability for in-situ consolidation, press molding, and autoclave manufacturing processes thus is widely utilized in bonding applications in the automotive and aerospace industries.

UD tapes are an advanced composite material that is manufactured using carbon fiber or glass fiber impregnated with thermoplastic polymer including Polyether Ketone Ketone (PEEK) or Polyamide 12 (PA12) as a thermoplastic matrix. The product offers exceptional strength, flexibility, and durability for in-situ consolidation, press molding, and autoclave manufacturing processes.

UD tapes are derived through raw uncured resin molecules that are cross-linked through a catalytic chemical reaction. The uncured state of the material is primarily in liquid form, which allows for convenient impregnation of various reinforcement fibers including carbon fiber and fiberglass to form the UD tape of desired dimensions.

The thermoset UD tapes are resistant to corrosion, heat, and solvents and offer exceptional adhesion. The product also has high fatigue strength and elasticity, which make it suitable for various end-use applications including airplane wing spars, military vests & helmets, radome (structural weatherproof enclosure that protects a radar antenna), satellite mold joining, and F1 racing cars chassis structure.

Fiber Insights

The glass fiber segment dominated the UD tapes market with a revenue share of 58.2% in 2020 and is expected to ascend at a notable CAGR over the forecast period. The high tensile strength of glass fiber as compared to steel wires of the same diameter coupled with a lower weight makes it a suitable choice to produce UD tapes.

Glass fibers are used in producing structural composites and a wide variety of special-purpose products, such as frame and mold joining parts in aircraft, boats, rockets, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Carbon fiber is primarily 15% lighter than glass fiber, 40% lighter than aluminum, and approximately 70% lighter than steel, which makes it a lightweight, strong, and rigid reinforced material. As a result, it is used in door panels & chassis of cars, reinforcements insert in military vehicles & protective equipment’s including vests and helmets, and winding pipes & containers in other utility services.

The rising demand for outdoor recreational and sports equipment is further expected to increase the carbon fiber UD tapes demand in sports & leisure and automotive application segments. The carbon fiber UD tape offers excellent conformity and drapes for sporting equipment (skis, archery bow limbs, etc.), marine (yacht stringer reinforcement), motorsport (aero wings, structural components), and pipe wrapping/reinforcement applications.

End-use Insights

Aerospace & defense was the largest end-use segment in 2020 with a revenue share of 54.9%. It is likely to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. Thermoplastic and thermosets UD tapes are used in primary and secondary aircraft structures and high-load aircraft interior applications including fuselage, wings, cargo liners, bulkheads/class dividers, and lavatory modules.

The increase in usage of UD tapes in high-end cars and e-vehicles or Electric Vehicles (EVs) is expected to increase their penetration in the automotive industry. The reduction in vehicular weight helps increase its mileage and speed. Their usage in EVs helps increase the car range on a single charge. The governments across several countries including India, Australia, and Canada are undertaking several initiatives to promote the usage of e-vehicles, thus benefitting the UD tape market.

The UD carbon fiber or glass fiber tapes have an exceptional fatigue resistance, rigidity and are lightweight, as a result, they can also be used as a laminated sheet or sleeve once placed at certain angles to manufacture prosthetic blades, which are extensively used by Paralympic sprinters. In addition, UD tapes are used to produce sole of cycling or sprinting shoes, which offer high stiffness along with minimal weight in racing applications.

Other applications include oil & gas, medical, and warehousing & logistics. Fiber reinforcements with a variety of polymer matrices including polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyethylene, and polypropylene provide structural stiffness and strength to the tape that is used in the above-mentioned application industries.

UD tapes products are widely used in automotive products, such as auto parts, oil paints, coatings, lightweight hemp plastics, and related composites, for use as an alternative to fiberglass in the automotive and aviation sectors. Several European automobile manufacturers are adopting natural fiber composites on account of the increasingly stringent regulations related to harmful synthetic materials, which is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market and accounted for 39.6% of revenue share in 2020. Robust aerospace and automobile manufacturing industries in the region coupled with the growing demand for lightweight vehicles are expected to ascend the product demand over the forecast period.

The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards introduced in the U.S. to improve fuel economy are supporting the utilization of lightweight components in passenger cars and light truck production in the U.S. The recent upgrades in the CAFE policy in 2018 have augmented the utilization of light bonding materials that can reduce the bonding materials’ weight by nearly 70%, thereby are boosting the product demand.

Europe is likely to ascend at a significant growth rate over the forecast period on account of a rise in demand from the automobile manufacturing industries that are aiming to procure materials for weight reduction. Moreover, switching trends for EVs are likely to incorporate the utilization of lightweight components, thus are likely to have a positive impact on the market.

Automobile production in China, India, and Japan accounted for the largest share in the APAC region. Companies, such as Honda Motor Company, Ltd., Suzuki Motor Corp., Hyundai Motor Company, and Tata Motors, are operating large production facilities and are incorporating lightweight technology for vehicles; thus, are estimated to upscale the utilization of UD tapes in automobile manufacturing.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is primarily consolidated in the U.S. and various European countries including Germany, U.K., Belgium, and the Netherlands. The market is moderately competitive owing to the presence of a limited set of players majorly concentrated in the U.K. and Germany.

Continuous research & development in the designing and manufacturing of composite materials is expected to shape the fine production of UD tapes in the market. Various companies are expanding their manufacturing capabilities to gain a competitive advantage in the market. For instance, in May 2021, Toray Advanced Composites announced to expand its thermoplastic composite material capabilities to advance its ‘Cetex’ brand of reinforced thermoplastic composite laminates and UD tapes. Some prominent players in the global unidirectional tapes market include:

• Evonik Industries AG

• SABIC

• Solvay, S.A.

• Hexcel Corp.

• Toray Industries, Inc.

• SGL Group

• Teijin Ltd.

• BASF SE

• Celanese Corp.

• Victrex plc.

• Cristex Composite Materials

• Eurocarbon B.V.

• Plastic Reinforcement Fabrics Ltd.

• TCR Composites, Inc.

• Barrday, Inc.

Unidirectional Tapes Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global unidirectional tapes market report on the basis of resin type, fibers, end-use, and region:

• Resin Type Outlook (Volume, Million Meters; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Thermoset

  • Thermoplastic

• Fiber Outlook (Volume, Million Meters; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Glass Fiber

  • Carbon Fiber

  • Other Fiber

• End-use Outlook (Volume, Million Meters; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Aerospace & Defense

  • Automotive

  • Sports & Leisure

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Million Meters; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa