Cyclic Olefinic Copolymer (COC) Capacity Analysis

Cyclic Olefinic Copolymer (COC) Capacity Analysis

Cyclic Olefinic Copolymers (COCs) were commercially made available by the pilot-scale plant in Japan until To pas Advanced Polymers started large scale COC plant in Oberhausen, Germany. The plant capacity is estimated to be 30 Kilo Tons and global capacity of COC now is around 56 kilo tons. Cyclic Olefinic Copolymers are widely used in packaging, medical & healthcare, optical & optics, electronics, and others. COC has superior optical properties with high-temperature resistance and excellent moisture barrier characteristics. Major demand drivers are optical films and pharmaceutical packaging which has driven COC market at a CAGR of 5% during 2015-2017.Other major COC manufacturing players are Zeon Corporation, Mitsui Chemicals and JSR Corporation with a combined capacity of 26 Kilo Tons as of 2017. The COC market price varies between 5-6 $/Kg and is expected to rise in the forecast period due to increasing demand.

Zeon Corporation: 20 Kilo Tons

Mitsui Chemicals: 3 Kilo Tons

JSR Corporation: 3 Kilo Tons

Global Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Capacity Analysis(56 kilo tons)

COC Market by Major Applications

Cyclic Olefin Copolymers (COCs) find application in the following:

• Packaging
• Medical & Healthcare
• Opticals & Optics
• Electronics
• Others

Packaging

COCs are most commonly used as modifiers in the manufacture of packaging films. Properties such as higher flexibility, moisture barrier, heat resistance and stiffness of polyethylene are enhanced when COC is added.Moisture barrier of COC is roughly twice and five times than that of HDPE and LDPE respectively. Its low cost in packaging has found numerous applications in food, healthcare, cosmetics, shrink films, labels, lamination, protective or bubble packaging and in forming films. COCs are highly used in pharmaceutical packaging.

Medical &Healthcare

The high moisture barrier, purity, clarity, and sterilization qualities of COC resin makes them an excellent replacement for glass and are ideally suited for pharmaceutical products. They are widely used in the production of syringes carrying insulin & other protein drugs, cartridges, and vialsas they increase the shell life and purity by being nonreactive to the medication, low weight and are less brittle.  Medicinal applications that require strong chemical resistance such as nicotine patches and pouches are also made by using COC. Other uses include diagnostic applications such as in cuvettes and microplates due to their high UV transmission property.

Optical &Optics

Properties of COCs like shatter resistance, high heat resistance,low specific gravity, high transparency, and low water absorption makes them optimum in the use of printer lenses, CD & DVD pick up lenses, digital camera lenses, projector lenses, LED lenses, contact lenses, mobile phone lenses, light guide panels for LCDs, reflection films, automotive parts and others.

Electronics

COCs are used in printed circuit boards (PCBs) and as an insulating material at high temperatures, excellent isotropic dielectric properties, thermo-mechanical property, electrical insulation, adhesion, low moisture uptake and low stress.

Others

Other applications include thermo-forming enhancements and consumer goods.

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