Liquid Crystal Polymer

Is it really intended to replace plastic?

Liquid crystal is a unique kind of material that exhibits the characteristics of both solids and liquids. This material exists in nature, in bio-cells and DNA matter, but it can also be synthesized artificially. Liquid crystal was first discovered in 1988 when two scientists noticed that the material they were working on had two different melting points: one melting point was from solid to liquid crystal, which they later called mesophase, and the other one is from liquid crystal to liquid.

This change in the state gives the liquid crystal a unique set of characteristics that have recently gained significant attention in electronics and biomedical devices. Some of the features of liquid crystals include significantly higher strength, resistance to chemical reactions, and biocompatibility. What’s more, liquid crystal is highly moldable, making it the perfect candidate for building specialized devices that operate in harsh conditions.

Liquid crystal polymer is not just small-molecule individual mesogens (molecules that are able to become liquid crystals). Instead, it is a chain of more complex molecules that form a stronger bond in the form of a chain that comes in varying lengths.

Liquid crystal polymers come in three forms of biologic, thermoplastic, and synthetic polymers. Biologic Liquid crystal polymers are usually found in lipids and more complex structures in the body. These polymers are not that resistant to high temperatures. On the other hand, thermoplastic Liquid crystal polymers are resistant to high temperatures. Plastic Liquid crystal polymers come with heightened strength and durability; therefore, they have application in food packaging, aerospace, and automotive industries.

Liquid Crystal Polymer Applications

In medical equipment

The two characteristics of liquid crystal polymer make it the perfect material to be used in implants and stents. First, this material is not plastic, making it possible for medical personnel to use the MRI-guided method for the implantation process. Second, liquid crystal polymer is highly moldable, which means it can be shaped into incredibly thin form with heightened strength and durability.

Gamma radiation and steam are the most commonly used methods of sterilization for medical devices. What’s more, LCP is highly resistant to gamma radiation and steam. Therefore, the medical instruments made with LCP can be sterilized easily, and their properties won’t be affected by the process.

In Electric Gadgets

One of the first applications of liquid crystal was in LCDs. LCD, or liquid crystal display, is most commonly used in portable gaming devices, monitors, billboards, and flatscreen TVs. Since the first use of liquid crystals in LCDs, significant progress has been made in the industry.

Liquid crystal polymer is excellent for high-frequency circuitry, it is impervious to water and vapor, and it has very little thermal expansion. What’s more, liquid crystal polymer has allowed manufacturers to make devices in smaller and smaller sizes over the years. This is why about 75% of all the liquid crystal polymer in the world is used in manufacturing electronic devices.

In the Automotive Industry

There are a lot of electronic devices in the composition of a vehicle. These are usually made using LCPs because of their durability in harsh conditions. Additionally, liquid crystal polymers are more lightweight and high-performance, which increases fuel efficiency and the general performance of the vehicles.

However, liquid crystal polymers have some significant challenges that might impede their use in the automotive industry. This challenge is the low strength that LCPs show when they are welded to one another. This flow in the structure of welded LCPs makes it more difficult for them to be used in the auto industry.

The Top Manufacturers of Liquid Crystal Polymers

Solvay (SOLB)

Solvay operates in four different divisions, Materials, Chemicals, Solutions, and Corporate and Business Services. This company was founded in 1863 in Brussels, Belgium, and currently employs over 23,000 people.

The Materials division of Solvay offers polymers, including liquid crystal polymers, for the following industries: automotive, aerospace, agriculture, consumer goods, healthcare, energy solutions, and much more.

This company has 110 sites all around the world and 20 research and innovation centers. Solvay reported 8.9 billion dollars of net sales in 2020. The stock for Solvay is currently traded for 108.40 Euros per share. Analysts believe that this stock will grow by 2.93% per year in the next five years.

Celanese Corporation (CE)

Celanese is a company designing and producing specialty chemical solutions and materials. This company is headquartered in Texas, US, and has 7,700 full-time employees. Celanese has recently signed a deal to build a world-scale company to manufacture liquid crystal polymer polymerization in China to respond to the growing demand for this material.

China is using LCP in 5G, Internet of Things, Automotive, and aerospace industries. Therefore, this country needs more liquid crystal polymers more than ever.

According to analyses, Celanese is to have about 7.05 billion dollars of revenue in the current year, 2021. This amount had a 24.70% of increase since the previous year. Generally, Celanese’s revenue has been growing steadily in the last few years.

Currently, the stock for Celanese is sold for $150 per share. The share price for this company was about $85 this time last year, which has grown more than 75%. According to predictions, the stock for this company is to increase by 22.23% per year in the next five years.

Sumitomo Chemical Company

Sumitomo is a Japanese company founded in 1913. This company produces specialty chemicals and functional materials. There are 79 overseas facilities and 218 consolidated subsidiaries to this company. Sumitomo started the mass production of liquid crystal in 2003 and used this material to produce LCD and OLED screens.

However, this is not all. Sumitomo works on six core technologies: catalyst design, precision processing, organic polymer material function design, inorganic material function design, device design, and biological mechanism analysis.

Sumitomo has a revenue of 2.22 trillion yen in 2020, which is equal to over 20 billion US dollars. This revenue has slightly grown and reached 2.28 trillion yen. The stock for this company is traded for US$26.98. Last year this time, this stock was $14, which has increased by 86% in the span of one year.

The Market Size for Liquid Crystal Polymer

The market size for liquid crystal polymers reached 1.1 billion dollars in 2020. The leading consumer of this market is China, but the other industrial countries are catching up. As a result, this market size is forecasted to reach 1.36 billion dollars by 2026. Between 2021 and 2026, there is expected to be a 2.2% increase in the industry’s size.