Silica Dust Under Scrutiny for Exacerbating Coronavirus among Workers
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sweeps across the globe, business owners are scurrying for opportunities to maintain income generation. Several challenges such as travel ban, volatile demand, and supply chain disruptions are likely to hurt sales for manufacturers in the cristobalite market. Moreover, there is awareness about crystalline silica dust being hazardous to health. Hence, manufacturers in the cristobalite market are adhering to the regulations given by the local and federal authorities.
Robust sanitization measures and limited headcount are being preferred in factories. Since fine silica particles cause respiratory illnesses, companies are taking extra care to ensure optimum health of their workers and employees. As such, there is increased awareness about workplace health and safety in Australia and the U.K. Manufacturers are scurrying for incremental opportunities in countries such as Queensland since the pandemic has drastically subsided in Australia.
Paints and Dental Casting Materials Creating Stable Revenue Streams for Manufacturers
Apart from artificial marble and ceramics, cristobalite is being extensively used to produce industrial coatings, road marking paints, and metallurgy. Sibelco— a material solutions company, is increasing its portfolio in commercially-viable natural resources such as cristobalite, which is in high demand for road marking paints, since cristobalite acts as a high brightness filler. Likewise, abrasion and scratch resistance attributes are highly preferred for manufacturing ceramics and artificial marble.
Companies in the cristobalite market are increasing their production capabilities in medium-sized grains and micronized powders to meet customer specifications. Cristobalite is being highly publicized for the manufacturing of engineered stone, made from PMMA [poly (methyl methacrylate)]. Dental casting materials are creating stable revenue streams for manufacturers in the cristobalite market. Innovative product offerings are bolstering growth for the market, which is predicted to clock a CAGR of ~6% during 2020 to 2030.
Titanium-induced Cristobalite Formations Gain Prominence in Food Preservatives and Agrochemicals
The cristobalite market is projected to mature to reach US$ 54 Mn by 2030. However, health and safety concerns pertaining to crystalline silica dust have compelled manufacturers to adopt workplace health & safety measures. In order to conduct smooth production activities, it is has become important for manufacturers in the cristobalite market to acquire certifications for workplace safety.
Titanosilicates involving cristobalite are in high demand for membrane technology used in water purification, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. These materials are commercially valuable, owing to its efficacy in the oxidation of alkenes and form industrially-relevant organic alcohols and epoxides. Titanosilicates involving cristobalite act as highly selective heterogeneous catalysts, which are used as precursors in food preservatives, agrochemicals, and pesticides.
Air Monitoring Plays Crucial Role During Install of Silica-based Products
In order to gain market visibility, companies in the cristobalite market are complying with the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations to boost their credibility credentials. Allied Mineral Products— a manufacturer of monolithic refractories and precast shapes, is providing a low Respirable Crystalline Silica product line called TEK-SIL to adhere to the safety and health of workers.
Companies in the cristobalite market are becoming aware about Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) regulations, while manufacturing silica-based products. They are adopting the modified NIOSH 0600 testing method to determine the amount of respirable dust concentration in factories. Air monitoring is being highly recommended to measure the amount of respirable crystalline silica in the air during an install of silica-based products.
Cristobalite Market: Overview
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Cristobalite is a polymorph of quartz that is composed of the same chemistry as SiO2; however, it has different structures. It is commonly found in volcanic rocks. Good specimens of crystals are found in the crevices and cavities of host rocks.
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Crystallite is commonly found in volcanic rocks; therefore, identification by its color and crystal habit becomes easy. It can be white, light gray, light brown, light yellow, and blue gray in color. It is formed from molten rocks at a temperature range above 1470°C to the boiling point of silica.
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Increase in R&D activities in transparent ultrafine mineral filler technologies has created opportunities for cristobalite in artificial marble and paints & coatings industries
Drivers of Cristobalite Market
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Engineered stones are composed of crushed stones bounded by strong adhesives. Engineered stones include silica sand and powder, quartz grits, cristobalite, glass, polyester, and pigments of natural marble and additives.
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Engineered stones can be combined with cristobalite. This provides high quality visual and functional results. Cristobalite improves appearance in line with design trends, including greater transparency, whiteness, and brightness. It also helps improve the hardness and durability of a surface; and resistance to scratching, staining, heat, and chemicals. Engineered stones are employed in various applications in kitchen countertops, facades, floorings, and bathrooms. Cristobalite is also utilized as a filler in these applications.
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According to the latest annual report published by Sibelco in 2018, the demand for cristobalite once again surpassed supply, owing to the high demand from the engineered stone market. This helped manufacturers open new kilns in Belgium. In collaboration with its customers, Sibelco continues to develop new cristobalite solutions for the market in order to help customers enhance key aspects of a surface’s visual appearance such as transparency, whiteness, and brightness.
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Demand for cristobalite is high in the engineered stone market, as it improves the functionality of stones. Consistent rise in the demand for engineered stones is boosting the demand for cristobalite.
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Thus, an increase in the demand for nickel-based chemicals and rise in catalysts & automotive applications are likely to boost the demand for cristobalite during the forecast period