Aluminium paste market to grow due to use in electronics, photovoltaics

The use of aluminium paste in photovoltaic and electronics applications is set to boost the aluminium powder, flakes and paste market to 332,000 metric tons in shipments by 2019, according to a new research study from Technavio.

“Aluminium is not only resistant to corrosion, but also more conductive than copper wiring. In addition, as aluminium acts as a good insulator, its adoption is growing in the electronics segment. For instance, it is being used for manufacturing solar cells. The use of aluminium is also extensive in the production of thick film pastes, applied at the back of the silicon. These pastes are screen-printed and metallised to improve electric conductivity and [their] application requires superfine powders with tightly controlled particle size distribution,” said Chandrakumar Badala Jaganathan, one of Technavio’s lead analysts for metals and minerals research.

“Technavio researchers forecast the global photovoltaic cell market to grow at a CAGR of 10% during the forecast period, and it is predicted to significantly drive the demand for aluminum powders over the next four years.”

The largest segment of the global aluminium powder, flakes and paste market is the industrial sector, with 58,520 metric tons shipped for industrial applications in 2014. This constitutes 22.25% of the market. Aluminium powder, flakes and paste are used in solar cells, industrial coatings, refractors, thermite welding and welding electrodes, metallurgy applications and aluminium soldering.

Automotive applications are the second-largest segment of the market at 19.5%, followed by chemical applications at 15.78%.

Originally published here.