WorldWide Sulfur Hexafluoride Market, Industry / Sector Analysis Report, Regional Outlook & Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019 - 2025 (Includes Business Impact of COVID-19)

                                          
Sulfur Hexafluoride Market size is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast timeframe. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).is a non-toxic, inert, potent greenhouse gas having excellent electrical insulation property. Its principal uses are as an insulating and arc interrupting gas in the power transmission & distribution industry and as an etching agent in the electronics & semiconductor industry. High growth in the power generation sector coupled with rising demand for electronic gadgets will be the major reasons behind the sulfur hexafluoride market development in coming years.
 

Sulfur hexafluoride is colorless and odourless, is five times heavier than air and has a high dielectric strength and thermal stability. The product has strong electronegativity both at room temperature and at temperatures above the ambient. It has good heat transfer properties and produces no carbon, polymerisation, or other conductive deposits at the time of arcing. Sulfur hexafluoride is also compatible with a large number of solid conducting and insulating materials employed in electrical equipment. These properties make it an ideal product to be used for electrical insulation and arc quenching applications.
 

The proliferation of the global power generation industry will be a major growth enabler for the sulfur hexafluoride market. The product is extensively used in circuit breakers and switchgears as an arc quenching medium. The product also acts as an electric insulation for the electrical components. High-voltage cables, transducers, transformers, particle and electron accelerators, UHF transmission systems, and X-ray equipment are other electrical components that employ the product as an electrical insulation and arc quencher. High growth in the power generation sector in developing countries will augment the sulfur hexafluoride market. Increasing installation of renewable power generation plants across the globe will also propel product demand for use as electric insulator.
 

Sulfur hexafluoride is also used as an etching agent in the semiconductor industry. The product is used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits (ICs), flat panel displays, photovoltaic panels, and micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS). The product is applied as an etching gas owing to the density and large molecule size. High growth in the semiconductor industry will help the sulfur hexafluoride market to grow. Increasing semiconductor and electronic gadget production in the Asia Pacific region will fuel product demand in coming years.
 

Sulfur hexafluoride is a greenhouse gas having high global warming potential. Although the gas is non-toxic in nature, its decomposition may release harmful compounds such as sulfur dioxide and hydrofluoric acid. Due to the above reasons, government agencies such as the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has formulated guidelines and regulations regarding the use and transportation of the product. The hazardous nature of the product coupled with government regulations regarding their use increases the transportation, handling and maintenance costs of the product. These factors are likely to create entry barriers in the market and may hamper the global sulfur hexafluoride market growth in coming years.
 

The sulfur hexafluoride market has been segmented on the basis of grade, application, and end-user. Based on grade, the market has been segmented into technical, electrical, and others. Electrical grade sulfur hexafluoride is likely to have a significant share of the market owing to the increasing product demand from the electronics industry. Technical grade will also have a substantial share of the market in coming years.
 

Based on application, the market is segmented as dielectric, etchant, inert gas, and other applications such as sound insulation, tracer gas, etc. Dielectric is likely to be a major application segment that will drive the global sulfur hexafluoride market growth. Etchant application segment will also account for a substantial share of the global market.
 

According to end-users, the sulfur hexafluoride market is segmented into power & energy, electronics, metal manufacturing, medical, and others such as glass manufacturing, etc. Power & energy is likely to be a major end-user segment owing to the high product consumption as a dielectric. Electronics and metal manufacturing end-user segments will also be key industries that will drive the global market growth.
 

Major manufacturers of sulfur hexafluoride include Honeywell, Solvay, Linde Group, Matheson Tri-Gas, Praxair, Suzhou Jinhong Gas Company, American Gas Products, Concorde Specialty Gases, WestAir, Electronic Fluorocarbons, Airgas, etc