Opacifiers are the chemical additives that are blended with transparent materials to make them opaque. Various industry verticals such as paints & coatings, cosmetics, plastics, papers, and ceramics, among others require opacifying agents in humungous amounts to add to their products.

Talking about the history of opacifiers, Tin Oxide was the first opacifier that was utilized in Egypt and other Middle East areas since the 2nd Century BC. This chemical agent was particularly utilized for bestowing white glaze to the glass. With the advancements in the manufacturing process, zircon and titanium compounds were added in the opacifier list which has now become the most common ones in the industry.

As per the detailed report by DataIntelo, the global opacifier market size was around 16.3 Billion in 2019 and is anticipated to reach almost USD 29 Billion by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of at least 6% during the forecast period 2020-2026. The huge demand for opacifiers has encouraged new entrants to penetrate into this industry which is likely to reward them with high ROI.

Latest Development and Launches in the Opacifier Market

In March 2019, Evonik Industries, one of the leading specialty chemicals company, received an award from Henkel for its development for biodegradable opacifier instead of using microplastics. In the same year, the company entered into a partnership with DKSH. Under the partnership, DKSH is expected to distribute its silica formulations which include SIPERNAT, a company’s filler product to replace Tio2 pigment in the opacifier segment.

In October 2018, BASF, a prominent German chemical company, launched a biodegradable, cold-processor opacifier named Euperlan® for the cosmetic products. It contains glycol distearate which is derived from 90% natural sources. In April 2019, the company received an award from the industry consulting agency BSB for its innovation. In May 2020, the company has started production of its opacifiers from its new pearlizer plant in South Carolina.

Dow Personal Care, a division of Dow Inc, introduced a new opacifying technology that focuses on giving desirable texture and appearance to opacifier. The company’s Opulyn PQG Opacifier is designed to be used in cosmetic and personal care formulations. It supports cationic polymers and provides foaming properties.

Titanium Dioxide Opacifier is Expected to Offer a Lucrative Opportunity in the Industry

Titanium dioxide is white in color which is mostly utilized for proving opaqueness and whiteness to the end-product. Here below are some factors that are propelling the sales of this opacifier.

• Cosmetics

This pigment has a UV filter which makes it a popular ingredient in the cosmetic industry. Earlier, the sunscreens contained chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate which were harmful to the skin. Now, the cosmetic industry has replaced it with titanium dioxide as a safer option. This titanium compound perfectly goes well with sensitive skin and can be used as an anti-aging ingredient in the personal care products. Currently, the industry is not intensively looking for any titanium dioxide alternative due to its versatility which is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the cosmetics segment.

• Paint & Coatings

Paints & coatings are widely used in the construction and automotive industry. Titanium dioxide is used with different colorants to diverse its applications. This additive has a refractive index of more than 2 which means it can scatter the light more proactively than currently available opacifiers in the market. There are substitutes of this opacifying agent such as opaque polymers and zircon compounds. However, TiO2 has a refractive index of 2.9 which makes it better among the other opacifying agents.

Is Titanium Free and Natural Opacifiers Storming the Market?

Industry players are introducing biodegradable or natural opacifiers for mostly cosmetic products. The growing demand for natural or organic products has encouraged consumers to launch titanium-free opacifier in the market. The titanium dioxide opacifier demand won’t be much disrupted in other industries in the foreseeable future. However, some industry players are launching natural opacifier for paints and coatings industry. For instance, Rohm and Haas joined the forces and launched Ropaque Ultra-E, an organic opacifier for waterborne paints. According to the company, it also enhances the paint properties. It also claims that it has used the latest opacifier technologies which makes it solvent-free, and ammonia-free product.

Market Segmentation

Currently, the type of opacifier segment is divided into titanium dioxide, opaque polymers, zircon, cerium oxide, antimony trioxide, and zinc oxide, among others. In 2019, titanium dioxide accounted for more than 35% of the market share and is expected to grow at a steady rate during the forecast period. Among the application segments, the paint & coating is anticipated to grow at a robust rate owing to its applications in diverse industries such as construction and automotive. The rapid urbanization and rising disposable income are propelling the growth of these two segments.

The Asia Pacific market is expected to offer ample opportunities due to the growing economy in emerging economies such as India and China. These countries have comparatively low manufacturing costs and are witnessing a growing number for ceramics, paints & coatings, and plastic manufacturers. which is fueling the market growth. The North American market is expected to grow at a steady rate while the European market is expected to grow at a robust rate during the presence of major players in the market.

Competitive Landscape

The prominent players of the opacifiers market are:

• Evonik Industries AG
• Dow, Inc.
• Chemours Company
• Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.
• Arkema
• Ashland Global
• Argex Titanium, Inc.

The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted the supply and demand. This has given a lucrative opportunity to the new entrants as the major companies in various industry verticals are looking for the local suppliers. Therefore, prominent players are indulging in proliferating their manufacturing plants in various regions.

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